Trees — Restaurant in Dallas

I made the mistake of not knowing that they no longer allow reusable water bottles inside Trees. This prompted the security staff member in the attached photo to overreact and scream at me. I had my ID out, my ticket ready to scan, and my reusable water bottle in clear view. (I couldn'tfind any rule updates on their website). Except that he denied me entry despite me offering to dispose of the liquid and telling him I was okay with them checking it before I left as they always have. None of the other security guys said anything. They didn't contradict him nor did they agree with him. I was already crouched on the ground and emptying the water when he yells at me for messing up his very expensive shoes. I was nowhere near his supposedly expensive shoes but I was still told by him to leave the line or he would make sure I learned my lesson. He told me to leave it in my car but since I didn't have one, he gave me the option to dump my reusable water bottle or to throw it at the homeless guys passing by. I decided to go to the restaurant I had just dined at and the staff agreed to keep it safe if I came back before they closed. I agreed and went on my way thinking he'd be calmer and let me in. However, that was not the case. I was humiliated when he got two security staff members to thoroughly search my purse (I simply thought he wanted to make sure I wasn't trying to sneak in my bottle). What came out of his mouth was not what I expected. He accused me of trying to sneak in my water bottle, alcohol, and drugs. They emptied out most of my bag which did contained my medicine (insulin). He told me to throw it away and I refused. Thankfully, the ones checking said it wasn't necessary when I turned to them to ask if I had to and if so, I wanted a refund. He denied me the refund saying I had to contact the ticket company. My purse was returned to me and he leans in (creepily) close to ask for my legal documents. I ask show him my state ID and ticket and he became irate. He started screaming like he was some sort of drill sargent gone crazy. He was screaming inches from my face that I needed to listen despite me being quiet. So much that I told him that I didn't need to keep listening to him any longer and wanted my refund to which he refused once again. This time he closed off entry with the cord and boxed me in just so he could scream at me even more. He yelled nonsense about his expensive shoes being ruined, how he wasn't my son (I don't have kids nor did I have any with me), that he can deny me services, etc. I start looking at my phone to turn on my camera and he becomes even more irate telling the box office woman to just give me a refund and I agree only for him to take it back. He starts screaming at me to say that I'm sorry. I look back and the other security staff members simply looked away. The people in front of me just stood there frozen looking at him and the people behind me also looked at him with puzzled looks. Since I knew I hadn't done anything wrong, I was calm but nervous because he looked like he was losing it. His eyes were twitching and one of his eyes looked weird. I got everyone's attention to announce that I was going to apologize for unknown reasons to him but needed them hear it. I told him I was apologizing but didn't mean my apology. This guy was power hungry or on something. He then asks for my ID and ticket again and put the cords back in the original manner. I turned to the others and just went in. I asked the woman for my refund but she looked like a deer in headlights and doesn't speak a word. He screams at her to quickly scan the ticket and I went through. It was the most ridiculous experience I've ever had at a concert venue and the first time at this location. I went inside and immediately asked for managment to report him but they refused to take any reports. After the concert, that same guy called me a b*h as I walked past the Trees concert venue on my way to catch my ride after picking up my empty reusable water bottle from...

After a series of “meh” to “bad” experiences with this place, culminating into a really bad experience, I feel compelled to finally leave a review of Trees. Posting with a throwaway to avoid identifying myself or anyone associated with me, but in any case let me say that this is my opinion only and not of any people/bands I associate with. So on this particular night I show up with the band to help load/unload, sell merch, that sort of stuff. I was pre-listed as a guest. Showed up with the band, helped unload and setup, no problems. I leave to grab a slice of pizza, come back, and magically they have no idea who I am and despite being on the guest list (which by the way, I can physically SEE my name on it and it’s not crossed out) I am informed the band has reached the maximum number of guests. Yeah, no, that’s BS. Door guy puffs his chest, and we’re extorted of $40 (which, online, tickets were $12 might I add). The excuse? They’re afraid they’re not going to make much money tonight. Meanwhile they’re charging $20 a head and the place is packed. Sound guy…non-existent. Tells singer he will “get to you when he can,” doesn’t, opens curtain anyway, then disappears in the middle of song #2 of a 40-minute set. I know for a fact their sound system doesn’t suck, but if no one is there to run things then it’s kind of moot. And it did suck on this particular night. As other reviews have pointed out, apparently they took the wrong lesson from Woodstock ’99. A free cup of tap water is non-existent here. “All they have” according to the bartenders are $3 bottles of water with all of 8 ounces in them. Even for band members. What the hell. What if someone is dehydrated, or needs to sober up to drive? Guess you are screwed, buddy, if you don’t have 3 bucks to shell out. There’s no fountains either so I’m pretty sure this is illegal. Could I get tap water? Nope. Cup of ice? No can do. Just a cup so I can go into the bathroom and drink from the sink? Bartender rolls her eyes and tells me “this isn’t American Airlines” – I guess because you get a free water on a plane? Ridiculous. Best you can do is order a beer and re-use the cup in the bathroom sink and I suspect they’d kick you out if they caught you doing that. They recently started putting bathroom attendants in so I suspect that’s probably why. Place is clearly aimed at squeezing every penny from you even if you just showed up for the act. Meanwhile all the other venues around have self-serve water jugs. Yet those places are still in business somehow, go figure. Guess it pays to not treat your patrons like cattle with wallets so that people actually want to come back. Drink prices – not the worst, definitely higher than comparable nearby venues and you get less. Bartenders are rude and will ignore you if you piss them off, I suspect they are family/girlfriends of managers or something rather than a professional who does it for a living. Floor bouncers are nuts. I mean the physical venue itself is great, it’s a big place with great views, and the sound system works great (when someone that cares works it). But they think they are Gexa or something. Kind of like what I noticed at the Bomb Factory, they’re a big venue in Deep Ellum clearly taking advantage of the location and the great acts they are able to pull in to treat patrons like walking bags of money. When you complain they tell you it’s because “they’re a venue, not bar” – like I give a crap? What a lame excuse. I recommend avoiding if you have a choice, but if you go because you want to see the particular act, buy your tickets ahead of time so you don’t get extorted at the door. If you’re on the guest list, don’t count on it meaning anything to the box office. Keep an eye on the over-aggressive bouncers. Get hydrated beforehand. Between acts, save some money by going across the street to Three Links or literally any other nearby bar to get your alcohol or water. People are way friendlier and prices are better anywhere...

This review is not only intended to be read by potential patrons or anyone that had a similar experience as I did, but also for any bands or artists that are considering getting their gigs booked here. This venue has a problem with abusive and aggressive staff. A friend of mine was being escorted out of the venue and the bouncer that was escorting her out, kept putting his hands on her in a very uncomfortable way. When I told him that she was complying and he didn’t need to keep putting his hands on her like that, he physically grabbed me, and assaulted me by aggressively, throwing me out the door to the point that I almost hit the pavement. When I went to complain to the manager, she literally turned around and walked away, ignoring me. She came back and told me that the bounce were claimed I was “interrupting his ability to do his job, and then I was kicked out for being an inebriated.” I was completely sober as I don’t drink. I not once interrupted him from doing his job. I was literally three feet away from him and all I told him was he didn’t need to keep putting his hands on her. I almost filed a lawsuit on them.

This has been an issue with this venue for over 20 years now. Back in 2003, I simply went to the bar and ask for a glass of water, and the bartender rudely berated me for not ordering alcohol. Again, I don’t drink. That doesn’t mean I should not be able to go to a venue to watch a show and have a good time and ask for a glass of water if I’m thirsty.

On another occasion, a friend of mine went to order a drink, she had a tab open, she was going to tip when closing out her tab, and because she didn’t put a dollar in the tip jar, the bartender decided to spray her with the hose that dispenses water from the fountain. That’s harassment.

This venue does not care about providing a safe and enjoyable environment for its patrons. The staff and particularly the bouncers cause more trouble than any patron I’ve ever seen there.

I don’t care if my favorite band on earth plays here, I will not attend the show. If you are an artist or a band and you’re looking to book a gig, do not even put this place on your list. There are plenty of other venues in the deep area where you will be bringing business to better people...