KEVIN ARELLANO
CREATIVE DIRECTION

TRIUMPHS
ESPRESSO
& WHISKEY



In 2023, I was approached to help design and brand a new bar in Dallas, Triumphs Espresso & Whiskey. At the time, I was also booking jazz at another venue, and during early conversations the owner had the idea of featuring live music on opening night to draw a crowd. The response was immediate. The following week, guests were already asking why there wasn’t music on Friday. It was clear they loved the atmosphere and wanted it to continue. What began as a one-night idea quickly evolved into a biweekly booking, then every Friday, then Fridays and Saturdays, then Thursdays added to the calendar. 

Today, live jazz runs Wednesday through Saturday, and as of February 2026, I’ve now led this program for three years. Something I’m genuinely proud of.

What makes the growth even more meaningful is that we never spent a single cent on external marketing, paid ads, or promotional collateral. Everything was built organically through word of mouth, great service, thoughtful food, strong cocktails, and most importantly, great music. The musicians carried the culture. The room built the reputation. The community made it sustainable. In our debut year, the impact was recognized when D Magazine named Triumphs a Top Jazz Venue of the Year. A huge honor for a new venue in a city with a deep musical legacy. I’m incredibly grateful to the owners of Triumphs for trusting me with the creative direction and live music programming, and for giving me a platform to merge my passion for design and live music into something that continues to grow three years later.

I want to publicly say thank you to my friend, mentor, and forever teacher, Joseph Olide. Thank you for trusting me with this process. This was a 50/50 split in terms of work and execution.
DTX 
2348—23476/23
11–05–24 
Sodales
Nulla


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