We visited Richardson in search of a local distillery, and found a fun market and vintage mall in the process.
Richardson is perhaps best known for the Eisemann Center and the biannual Cottonwood Art Festival. A long established inner-ring suburb of Dallas, the city saw much of its residential growth in the 1970s. Many of its shopping areas date from that decade. Repurposing has breathed new life into one older shopping strip, Dal-Rich Towne Square.
Richardson’s Farmers Market
Every Saturday the parking lot of the Dal-Rich Towne Square (101 S Coit Road) fills with over three dozen vendors in a mixed farmers and craft market. Unlike most markets, you don’t need to wake at dawn to score the best baked goods. Richardson’s Farmers Market is open from 10 am until 2 pm. I was impressed with the friendliness of the vendors, though this farmers market is short on farmers. On the day of our visit, there was just one produce seller, Stubblefield Farm. That said, their produce selection was high quality and reasonably priced.
Several vendors sell a range of bakery goods including keto friendly cakes. A neighborhood favorite, Boulangerie à Paris, appeared to have a loyal following of customers visiting the market just to buy bread and scones for the week. Other food stalls sell prepared foods (jams, jellies, and specialty olive oils), North Texas honey, and small-batched coffee.
In addition to food, there’s a good selection of artists and handmade crafts including jewelry makers, a leatherworks stall, and several woodworkers. It’s a fun market to explore.
Cottonwood Market
Located at the same location as Richardson’s Farmers Market, Cottonwood Market anchors the Dal-Rich Towne Square. The once-upon-time big box store now houses over a hundred vendors with an outstanding selection of antiques, vintage, new gifts, and art. There are so many stalls crammed with treasures that it can be a bit overwhelming. Thankfully, each stall sticks to its theme. You’ll find grandma’s china and crystal, along with vintage children’s books, an outstanding selection of vinyl records, and even contemporary home décor. A custom framing studio, A&G, operates at the back of the store. If you enjoy searching for vintage treasures, Cottonwood Market is your spot.
Lunch at Lockwood Distilling Co.
At last, shopping done, we headed to Lockwood Distilling Co. (506 Lockwood Drive) for lunch. The distillery produces a variety of liquors, from hibiscus-infused vodka to bourbon to gin, and even flavored rums. Lockwood is more than a tasting room, though. Its restaurant serves lunch, dinner, and in-between. Select a shareable plate for a quick snack or one of their signature sandwiches for a meal. Texas/Louisiana cuisine inspires many of the menu items like the shrimp and grits, muffaletta sandwich, and pastrami made with brisket.
The versatility holds with a number of different ways to sample their product. Choose from over a dozen seasonal cocktails or order a tasting flight. The flights include a sample of four liquors, with three options: Lockwood flight, with a sample of vodka, gin, and bourbon; a rum flight; and an aged bourbon flight. You can also purchase unopened bottles to take home, too.
We didn’t need reservations for lunch, but if you plan to visit on a weekend evening, be sure to call for reservations. Even with the outdoor seating area, Lockwood is often packed in the evenings.
We’ll definitely be back!
Did you know: The Cottonwood Arts Festival takes place at Cottonwood Park (1321 W Beltline) the first weekend in May and October.
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