One of my favorite things to do is explore Downtown Arlington. You see a lot of interesting things when you walk the streets, especially on a Sunday morning. Here’s a photo tour from the day.

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Public Art

Downtown Arlington has many murals, sculptures, and other works of public art. Here are a few from this trip.

And while not public art, the Cartel Taco Bar might have one of the coolest logos I’ve ever seen.

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J.R. Bentley’s Pub

I stopped by J.R. Bentley’s for a pint of Guinness about six weeks ago, but a sign on the door said that they were closed due to a water leak. I don’t think they’ve been open since and other ominous signs lurk in the shadows. (Their website, for example, lists the establishment for sale. It’s only $895,000 if you’re looking to buy a bar.) I hate to say it, but I think we lost a local icon. If they closed for good, it was certainly without much fanfare.

Open since 1979, J.R. Bentley’s recently rebranded itself as “Bentley’s Pub.” Gone were the Shepherd’s Pie, Fish & Chips, and English pub vibe; in their place was a menu of mostly burgers and domestic beer. Folks didn’t seem to like the new direction, as it was never very busy the 5 or 6 times I went there. It was also a tad expensive. Some things stayed the same, though, as they still did the best pint of Guinness in Arlington. I will miss that.

Will J.R. Bentley’s Pub be resurrected by new owners? We’ll see.

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Division Brewing

Ironically, the first time I went to Division Brewing was the aforementioned night I stopped by J.R. Bentley’s and they were closed. I decided to give the brewery a try and it’s been my go-to watering hole since. As they are closed on Sunday mornings, it was the perfect time to get a few unobstructed photos of the building and patio. I like the utilitarian, no frills look.

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Andrew Hayter – The Father of Arlington

A trip to downtown wouldn’t be complete without visiting the Texas Historical Marker and bronze bust of Andrew Hayter, the Father of Arlington.

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Fire Station #1

Construction continues on the new Fire Station #1. The former building was recently torn down, with the larger and more modern facility expected to open later this year.

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Odds and Ends

I like taking photos of buildings, bridges, signs, and walls. From left to right — West Street Bridge, the sign at Binions Ice House, a brick wall that caught my eye, and an interesting sunlight / shadow effect that made the shadow look like it was some type of 3D art.

How often are you close enough to get a photo of the train as it rumbles through Downtown?

A set of doors that looked a bit foreboding in black and white.

And finally, I like the old Vandergriff Dealership photo at The Grease Monkey.

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Blog post and photos by Jason S. Sullivan, 03-26-23