There was a time when the sights, sounds, food and drink of Sambuca could be experienced nationwide. Over the weekend, crews demolished the second-to-last location of the Texas restaurant and entertainment chain at 2120 McKinney Ave. in Dallas, according to reports and social media posts.
Kim and Holly Forsythe opened the first Sambuca in Dallas’ Deep Ellum neighborhood in 1991, its name taken from the Italian liqueur. The restaurant and live music concept proved popular and inspired additional locations in Addison, Atlanta, Denver, Houston, Nashville and Plano. In 2004, the original Sambuca left Deep Ellum and moved to Uptown.
I can’t speak to the apparent glitz and glamour of Sambuca Uptown, but the recently shuttered location in Houston’s historic Rice Hotel was very much a vibe before the kids were confusing me with that word. Take a stroll through the Houston Chronicle archives, and you’ll find plenty of politicians, power brokers and celebrities who hosted events or even had lunch at the music club-restaurant back in the day…