Category Archives: City Council

After navigating COVID, a winter blizzard and more than a few other obstacles, Grapevine Main was finally welcomed to the community by way of a Grand Opening Celebration and Ribbon Cutting on April 24.

Everyone was invited to listen to presentations, sip a little vino, enjoy some finger snacks, and watch their kids play in the fountain at Peace Plaza, which is located right in front of the clock tower. Tours from the ground floor to the Observation Tower were given to those that came out to celebrate.

Grapevine Main Station is a brand new 42,000 square foot brick and cast stone Station, which includes Harvest Hall on the first floor, where citizens and visitors alike can enjoy 7 different European style food and drink vendors; Third Rail, which offers a more private meeting space; offices on the second floor; and meeting spaces, ballrooms, and rooftop terraces on the fourth floor.

The front of the Station, Peace Plaza, is a 38,000 square foot outdoor space with outdoor seating, an interactive fountain for the kids (and kids at heart) and native landscaping. Hotel Vin, which is part of the campus, is a 120-room boutique hotel run by Marriott.

The Station also features a 15-story-high clock tower, which includes an observation deck. The tower offers views of AT&T Stadium, downtown Dallas and downtown Ft. Worth. The four 12-foot diameter glass clock faces were custom designed by Electric Time Company, which has been a manufacturer of tower and street clocks since 1928.

The main reason that this project was implemented was to provide a more all-encompassing, one-stop-shop for folks that ride the trains, as well as for visitors who come to Grapevine for all the events available throughout the year. Grapevine has a long history of train service, and these new additions not only make transferring from train-to-train easier, but also offers travelers, as well as locals, upscale shops and dining venues. If an overnight stay is planned, Hotel Vin offers rooms of ultimate luxury.

Several members of City Council presented their outlooks of Grapevine Main before staff contributors; Convention and Visitors Bureau Advisory Board Members; staff from ArchiTexas, which served as the architect for the project; members of Manhattan Construction Company; and Coury Hospitality, who made sure all of the guests were taken care of, were recognized.

“’Next stop Grapevine Main,’ was the conductor’s call heard back in 1888 when the cotton belt steam engine pulled into the new wooden depot on Main Street,” said Mayor William B. Tate in his dedication speech.

Even though times have changed, including the installation of the modern Trinity Metro TexRail system and the improvements on the Grapevine Vintage Railroad, conductors still use the call, “Next stop Grapevine Main.”

“With will and determination, Grapevine’s voice was heard, and the design of this fabulous Main Street Station complements our Main Street, which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places,” Tate said. “The architectural elements demonstrate our appreciation for great rail stations in the past. The mural on the east wall features vignettes that are dear to our community. On Grapevine Main’s exterior and interior, we have put our heart on the line for the world to see.

“Welcome to your hometown. We hope this place touches your heart. We invite you to always make your ‘Next Stop Grapevine,’” said Tate.

The two cornerstones, one that was inscribed with the names of the people that were involved in the project, and the other, which contained the address in large letters and presented some words of purpose, were unveiled.

The symbolic ribbon was cut after a champagne toast, which was poured and handed out by members of the Grapevine Wine Pouring Society. Members of City Council, Mayor Tate, representatives from the CVB, Architexas and Manhattan Construction Company participated in the ribbon cutting to officially open the building.

Tours of the Grapevine Main Station, including Harvest Hall, the Observation Tower and Peace Plaza were offered.

As the hallways are navigated, the ceiling lights change form from a spiral to a x-shape to horizontal lines. The tour guide explained that folks can find the horizontal line lights to take them to the train depot.

The upstairs meeting and ballrooms were elegant and spacious, with unique chandeliers throughout. Access to the outdoor Roja Rooftop Terrace, which is a feature for guests of Hotel Vin, was available on the fourth floor. The seating area surrounds the skylight to Harvest Hall and offers temperature-controlled “bubbles” in cold weather, as well as open seating in warmer seasons.

“This is incredible,” said attendee Cindy Feldner. “I’ve lived in Grapevine most of my life, and it seems like they keep offering so many new things. This town is very different from what it was just five or ten years ago.”