04/24/2026
To our Denton Community,
On behalf of myself and Victor, I want to share a sincere thank you to everyone who has walked through our doors and embraced us since our opening two weeks ago. Andy’s was a historical landmark, and we know we have big shoes to fill. A huge SHOUT OUT to those of you who have given us an opportunity to show you what we’re all about!
Change is hard—I get it. I’ve been with Southwest Airlines for over 25 years, and in the aviation world, I’ve seen my fair share of shifts and turbulence. It’s never easy, but it’s often where the best growth happens.
We’ve seen some of the conversations online recently—including assumptions that we’re a "big corporation" or that our concept was generated by AI. We wanted to take a moment to set the record straight and share the heart behind Ruby Rodeo.
The truth is, there is no corporate office or outside marketing firm. Ruby Rodeo and our sister concept, Red: Italian, were designed entirely by Victor and myself. Every design choice, every menu item, and every detail came from our own heads and hearts. This project wasn’t funded by a massive entity; we’ve put our own personal life savings and hard-earned money into this because we believe in Denton.
I’ve called this area home for 30 years—living everywhere from Flower Mound and Lewisville to Argyle and Denton—and Victor is a proud UNT alum. We didn’t want to open "just another bar"; we wanted to create something that specifically complements the Square.
Regarding our "Don’t Dallas My Denton" sign: for us, that phrase is a rejection of pretension. Our goal is "grit and glamour"—bringing elevated food and signature cocktails to the area without the "stuck up" vibe. To us, Denton is about being laid-back and authentic. We believe you can have a beautiful space with a scratch kitchen and great music while still keeping that welcoming, down-to-earth spirit that Denton is known for!
Ruby Rodeo was built for Denton by two local guys who are all-in. We’re listening, we’re learning, and we’re so grateful to be part of the neighborhood.
Come say hi, grab a drink, have a bite, listen to some tunes, live music and dance the night away!
— Mike & Victor