(Richardson, TX) – Continuing its strategic revitalization work, the City of Richardson today announced that local brewery Happy Hippie Brewing Company LLC (Happy Hippie) will occupy 11,000 square feet at 500 Lockwood Drive, in the heart of the Lockwood area within the City’s dynamically evolving CORE District.
Happy Hippie’s new home in Richardson, its first publicly accessible brick-and-mortar location, is another example of purposeful adaptive reuse projects in the area and will be renovated with the support of the City of Richardson. The taproom is expected to open in August or September of this year, joining other Lockwood destinations such as Communion Coffee Café, Greenville Avenue Pizza Company, Lockwood Distillery and Monkey King Noodle Company.
“We are excited for Happy Hippie to join the CORE District’s budding Lockwood area,” said City Manager Don Magner. “Happy Hippie will be a perfect addition to the eclectic and vibrant mix of businesses that are being cultivated in the CORE District and are providing more opportunities for residents and visitors to engage in our community.”
Founded by Michael Frederick in 2017, Happy Hippie is committed to fresh, delicious craft beer created with care and good vibes that bring people back to a time of peace and love. The company was recognized by D Magazine’s “Beer Issue” in May 2022 and as one of the essential craft breweries in Dallas by Thrillist.
The brewery will have a spacious taproom with indoor and outdoor seating and performance stages for live music.
“Being a hippie is a philosophy of walking your path, being who you are regardless of what society may expect you to be,” said Frederick. “Hippies come in all shapes and sizes and have diverse perspectives that span the spectrums of political, philosophic and religious views. It is our mission to build a destination brewery in Richardson built upon these principles. We look forward to being near one of the highest traffic areas in Dallas County and serving taproom customers who are the lifeblood of craft breweries. We thank the City of Richardson and Durkin Properties for their support in making this dream possible.”
The 500 Lockwood Drive property is owned by Durkin Properties. Manasseh Durkin, president of Durkin Properties, has worked closely with the City on area revitalization efforts.
“We feel Happy Hippie will be a great addition to the CORE District since it fits into the overall vision of the Lockwood area as an entertainment destination,” said Durkin. “The Fredericks also live in Richardson, so we are excited to have another business operator in the area who lives and works here in our great community.”
The CORE District, which includes the Downtown, Richardson Heights, Interurban, Lockwood and Chinatown neighborhoods, was one of six citywide zones identified for intentional enhancement or redevelopment efforts in Richardson’s 2009 Comprehensive Plan. In 2012 the City began a community vision and market study for its Main Street and Central Expressway corridors, which led to public meetings with residents and stakeholders, and eventually to two rezoning initiatives adopted by the City Council in 2015 and 2016.
Over the past few years, the City’s major investments in the CORE District include a new $80 million public safety campus, distinctive public art projects and $21 million in various infrastructure, roadway and pedestrian improvements such as wider sidewalks, lighting fixtures, picnic tables, benches, urban parks, tree-lined medians and tree plantings along both sides of Main Street east of U.S. 75/Central Expressway. The City has also partnered with local merchants and neighborhood groups to host events showcasing the District’s rebirth, including the Culture in the CORE event, Main Street Celebration, Lunar New Year Festival at DFW Chinatown, Light Up Lockwood, and the upcoming 150th Celebration.
In the nearby Downtown area, construction is continuing on the 14.5-acre Belt + Main mixed-use project from Catalyst Urban Development, which will offer 15,000 square feet of new restaurant and retail space, 350 multifamily units and 7,000 square feet of residential amenities. Full project completion is expected in the spring of 2024.
To learn more about Richardson’s CORE District or to see information about amenities and upcoming events in the area, visit www.richardsoncoredistrict.com.
About The CORE District
The Richardson CORE District includes the Chinatown, Downtown, Heights, Interurban and Lockwood neighborhoods and is a thriving entertainment and cultural center. Home to many independently owned and operated businesses, this area serves as the eclectic heart of our community. The CORE District is home to: DFW Chinatown, a regionally recognized major food, retail and cultural event destination; Lockwood Drive and its on-trend offerings including diverse food options, unique coffee shops, a modern co-working space, art shows and Richardson’s first and only distillery; and Richardson Heights, home to Dallas-Fort Worth’s first location of the Austin-based Alamo Drafthouse. To learn more, please visit www.richardsoncoredistrict.com.
