The space at 10261 Technology Blvd. has been vacant for the past several months, opening up an opportunity for Dallas restaurateur Mario Cernadas to lease the space at 10261 Technology Blvd. E.
Dallas — Read this article and other North Texas business news from our Dallas Business Journal partners
El Destino, a Mexican restaurant, bar and entertainment venue, opened March 7 on Technology Boulevard in northwest Dallas.
It takes over the space that once housed Richard Rawlings' Gas Monkey Bar & Grill. The space at 10261 Technology Blvd. has been vacant for the past several months, opening up an opportunity for Dallas restaurateur Mario Cernadas to lease the space at 10261 Technology Blvd. E.
El Destino has five bars, three patios, two outdoor and indoor stages, and hosts live music every weekend. The menu includes traditional Mexican cuisine and an extensive alcoholic beverage program. This space will accommodate approximately 400 people.
The dark look was replaced with bright tones and the festive spirit of Mexican culture. Cernadas said more than $1.4 million was spent transforming the space.
Gas Monkey Bar and Grill was started in 2013 by Richard Rawlings, known for restoring classic cars at Dallas' Gas Monkey Garage, which was featured on the TV show “Fast and Loud.”
In 2018, a defamation lawsuit began to surface between Rowling and the venue's managing partner.
The Gas Monkey Live music venue attached to the venue closed permanently in 2020, Culture Map reported. Then, in 2021, the venue was rebranded and Rawlings was no longer involved. He continued to host rock concerts and events under the name Amplified Live.
But Amplified closed last year and opened a larger retail space.
“We knew Amplified would be closing in the summer and began the process of taking over the space once the lease ended,” Cernadas said.
Cernadas said El Destino will focus on daily revenue from restaurant operations, rather than the weekly or biweekly entertainment revenue that previous tenants prioritized.
