UPDATE: Monica is on her way to Houston. I got lucky when she answered her cell phone. “This [move] has been a real struggle for me,””Greene said. I’ve always been committed to urban development. I believe in Dallas but unfortunately the area [Deep Ellum] has taken a long time to develop. It’s time for me to expand and open my doors to a larger audience.”

I say, you go girl. It’s a great move. She has been in, what I would call, an abusive relationship with Deep Ellum for a long time. It’s time she made a fresh start. That girl has some balls. Oh, wait. Nevermind.

May 18, 2012

Dear Dallas,

Years ago, I read in “Popular Science” that it takes seven years for a person’s cells to replenish. Maybe this is true for humans, but it has taken twenty years at Monica’s Aca y Alla for that cycle to occur.  Monica’s Aca y Alla, with some other creative and wonderful entrepreneurs, helped put Deep Ellum on the map.  But today Deep Ellum is paying the price of Dallas growth within the Downtown area, Bishop Arts District, Uptown and other business districts.  Deep Ellum is going through its own revitalization; old buildings are being redone, DART stations are now open and someday there will be a new world in Deep Ellum. I hope that new world is a good. I expect to continue to be a part of Deep Ellum through my support of whatever venture my ex-partners decide to re-open in the Aca y Alla space.

Indeed, Monica’s Aca y Alla is evolving and changing to Monica’s and the ME Lounge and we will be moving to new digs.  We look forward to becoming a new fixture for the Cedar Springs and Oak Lawn area. We are excited to begin a new partnership with the Crosland Group and the Axiom Group at the beautiful ilume ®  building.  Hector Hernandez will be leading the charge as the Chef for this new concept. Together, we have a vision that will continue to create reasons for guests to eat our unique – yet traditional – style of food, enjoy new menu recipes that will include some of the real Mexican-style of food that was destined for Tajin.

Reality has shown me that with the intense competition in the Mexican food segment, the challenge of finding new ways to attract (and to keep) customers grows. Yes, the new Monica’s together with ME lounge will be fast paced, inventive, exciting, and it will epitomize a new style of Mexican food that I prefer to not call Tex-Mex, but “Nueva Cocina.”

I work, I play, I live and I will always love Deep Ellum. Monica’s had a very successful twenty years of restaurant operation in this historic district.  I am grateful, and would like to thank all Dallasites for their kind and generous support over the years.  We hope you will join us over the next few weeks at Monica’s Aca y Alla to say your good-bye’s and share with us your favorite stories from the past 20 years.  Then, I look forward to sharing with you my vision of the future at Monica’s in the ilume ®.  Until then…

Respectfully,
Monica Greene

UPITTY DATE: Mark this day down. Tim was WRONG!

Dick Washburne, Ray Washburne, and Bob McNutt invested in Mico Rodriguez in the early '90s. Today they announced theyare helping him get a new start. (photo courtesy of Ray Washburne)

It’s taken a while for Mico Rodriguez to get the financing for his new project completed. However, today it looks like all of the initial checks are in and El Mesero (“the waiter” in Spanish) is under construction. Mico says he has been surrounded by “a lot of love” from former friends and foes alike. Ray Washburne, Bob McNutt, and Dick Washburne, Mico’s former partners at MCrowd, have each invested as individuals. “This is not an MCrowd investment,” Ray Washburne said. “We wanted to show our support for Mico. It’s important for Mico to be out on his own. We aren’t doing any of the books, we are minority investors.” The money invested by the trio accounts for almost a quarter of the total capital raised for the project.

Just a little over three years ago, Mico’s M Crowd partners filed suit against him and he was eventually let go of any responsibility in the company. (The whole story is here.) However, it sounds like forgiveness has won the day.

Mico changed the name from Mico 12 to El Mesero because, according the terms of his dismissal from MCrowd, he is not allowed to use trademarks used by any of the MCrowd businesses. He is currently overseeing the construction of the former Burger Girl space at 4444 McKinney Ave. He is in the process of “auditioning” chefs. “The menu is an evolvement of the Tex-Mex I know,” Mico said. “I call it American Mexican. We will have honest American classics, interior Mexican dishes, and Tex-Mex.” Honest American classics will include hamburgers and Caesar salads. Interior Mexican will involve some moles. And Tex-Mex? “People here are always going to want nachos, fajitos, and quesadillas,” Mico said. There will also be plenty of tacos and tequilas. El Mesero will be open until 1:00AM.