New co-owners of 13-year-old Levi, leather club plan to add dance floor to new site; TMC's closure to offer new opportunity

Glenn Price, left, who worked at the Round-Up Saloon for six years, and J.D. Buchert, who has worked at the Dallas Eagle since its opening 13 years ago, hope to continue the solid legacy of the Levi and leather nightclub they recently purchased from co-owners Mark Frazier and Matt Miller. They plan to open the bar’s new stand-alone site in two months. The new bar has been on the drawing table for about four years.

The long-awaited opening of Dallas Eagle's new stand-alone bar will hopefully be right around the corner, according to Glenn Price and J.D. Buchert, the nightclub's new co-owners.

Price, who tended bar at the Round-Up Saloon for six years before venturing into ownership of his own place, said opening the new bar is foremost on his mind.

"That's going to be my main priority to get us into that new building," Price said. "I think Dallas has waited long enough for that. I know I have. I got so anxious I bought the bar to make it happen."

Buchert, Price's business partner and co-owner of the 13-year-old Levi and leather club, promised the new club would be open for business by the end of February.

"I'm hoping for six weeks," Buchert said. "Cross your fingers."

A special use permit for a new alcoholic beverage establishment on the north corner of Inwood and Maple streets was approved for Dallas Eagle by city officials in mid-2006, but the structure remains an unfinished shell today. The new building sits directly behind the strip shopping center where the 13-year-old Dallas Eagle is now located.

Plans for the new bar began in 2004, but squabbles with nearby landowners about noise and parking concerns held up the city's approval process.

Price said he was reluctant to unequivocally say the new bar would be open in two months because bar patrons had repeatedly been told it would be open in a couple of months for "too long."

But Buchert insisted the opening would be on schedule. He noted that the delays in the last year in opening the new bar were related to his and Price's interest in buying Dallas Eagle.

"We are looking forward to serving the Levi, leather and bear communities," Buchert said.

Price and Buchert, who has worked for the bar since its opening before buying it, spent five months arranging the purchase of the leather bar from the previous owners, Mark Frazier and Matt Miller. The new owners took possession on Dec. 21.

"It seemed like it took forever, but it finally happened," Price said. "We're excited."

Price said he understands that Frazier and Miller decided to sell the bar because Frazier wanted to get out of the bar business. Miller will continue to operate Woody's, a gay sports bar on Cedar Springs Road that he owns, he said.

Price said he and Buchert are now working with contractors to finalize plans for finishing out the building.

"We have to build the whole inside of it," Price said. "We've got to put in the lighting, the sound system and the bars. Everything has to be put in."

The new bar will feature a dance floor, something the Dallas Eagle currently lacks.

"I'm excited about that," Price said. "I think it is great timing now that Throckmorton Mining Co. is going to be closed. I'm excited that we will be able to offer that."

Price said that Dallas' gay bars share many customers, and he hopes to be able to host former TMC patrons who want to go dancing.

Buchert said TMC's announced closing in January to allow the building to be renovated into a new Sue Ellen's gave their business plan an unexpected boost.

"We're very fortunate," Buchert said. "It's going to help us out."

Price said his ownership of the bar is the fulfillment of a dream for him.

"I love bartending, and I love the community," Price said. "I love every aspect of our Dallas gay life. It just always seemed natural that I would be able to progress into buying a bar. When I heard it was for sale, I couldn't resist and did everything I could to get it."

Despite the concerns that any new business owner experiences, Buchert said he shares Price's enthusiasm about owning a bar.

"After I had been working her for about two years I knew that I someday wanted to have my own bar," Buchert said.

Frazier, who previously owned Dallas Eagle and Woody's with Miller, said it had been his goal all along to retire at age 50. In addition to selling the Dallas Eagle, he sold his interest in Woody's as well, he said.

"If Matt and I were going to sell the bar, this was the time to do it," Frazier said. "Instead of opening the new bar and creating it in our vision, it was a great opportunity for J.D. and Glenn to create a new levi and leather bar in their vision."

Frazier said the Dallas Eagle has become an institution that is know throughout North America. That was accomplished not only by him, but by all former and current staff members, the patrons and all of the people who held fundraisers for charity over the years, he said.

"It's something that Dallas and the community should be proud of," Frazier said.

Frazier said he is convinced that Price and Buchert will continue the legacy they have inherited through their purchase of the bar.

"I have no doubt that they will carry the bar to a new level," Frazier said. "Neither Matt nor I would have sold it to them otherwise."

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This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition January 4, 2008