‘Real Housewives of Atlanta’ Ex Dennis McKinley’s CBD Cocktail Bar and Hookah Lounge Debuts Next Month

Cru Hemp Lounge, the clubby Atlanta hookah bar with a slew of CBD cocktails, gummies, and other hemp-infused treats, has officially set an opening date in Dallas-Fort Worth. The Atlanta-born club is set to make its Dallas debut on July 16. As Eater reported last year, McKinley’s original plan was to open the Cru outpost in Deep Ellum, but it seems that the chain ultimately settled on a space at 2512 East Belt Line Road in Carrollton. Time will tell whether or not the nondescript space, formerly occupied by Coconut Thai Grill, will be able to attract the upbeat nightlife crowd that Deep Ellum is known for. When it opens, Cru Hemp Lounge will serve snacks like burgers, chicken wings, and lollipop lamb chops, plus fruity cocktails like the Cru Lemonade mixed with strawberry or mango puree. Hookahs loaded with shisha and hemp oil will also be on offer, plus pre-rolled hemp joints and other CBD-infused products. To be clear, the CBD products served at spots like Cru are required to contain less than 0.03 percent THC under both federal and state guidelines. Fans of reality TV will likely recognize Cru founder and Atlanta nightlife promoter Dennis McKinley, who made multiple appearances on Bravo’s Real Housewives of Atlanta while he was dating star Porsha Williams. The two later split. In addition to his reality TV appearances, McKinley also operates a hot dog restaurant called the Original Hot Dog Factory, which expanded to Texas with a Houston location last year. Opened ten years ago in Atlanta, Cru Hemp Lounge has since expanded to multiple locations across the country, including four outposts in its home city. The first Texas location opened its doors in Houston in March 2021, and more locations are planned in cities like Austin, Miami, Pittsburgh, and Phoenix. When Cru Hemp Lounge opens its doors in Dallas on July 16, the bar will be open from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Saturday, and 11 a.m. to midnight on Sundays.