Custom Baseball Bats Company with Rock Star and MLB Investors Makes a Big Dallas Move: Bar and Diner to Follow

Dallas-based sporting goods company Warstic has a new home base in Deep Ellum. The brand, which specializes in custom baseball bats, announced Tuesday that it has acquired a building at 2900 Main St. and plans to open a manufacturing facility, headquarters, and flagship retail location in the space.

Warstic was founded by Dallasite and former minor league baseball player Ben Jenkins, who also founded Dallas consulting firm Onefastbuffalo.

Earlier this year, two celebrities joined the fast-growing company. Musician and founder of Third Man Records Jack White and Detroit Tigers second baseman (and former controversial Texas Ranger) Ian Kinsler came on as investors this year. 

The co-owners expect to open Warstic’s first brick-and-mortar retail location in early 2018.  The brand is focused on “the art of hitting,” offering metal and wood baseball bats, gear, and apparel. 

 Warstic prides itself on beautiful design and premium craftsmanship and will have a hand turned wood baseball bat manufacturing facility in the Main Street space.

“The idea is really about custom design service for our customers, and about celebrating the craft of turning and finishing wood bats,” Jenkins said in a statement. “We want a place where we can truly interact with our customers and bring them into the process and creation of our products.”

The facility will include a state-of-the-art bat-fitting room, wood and metal bat design studio and finishing lab, and a full batting cage for customers to test drive products in. 

As Warstic’s website explains, they consider bats to be more than a tool. They call bats “a sacred weapon crafted to express an individual player’s substance, style, and identity.” OK.

With two pro ball players on board, the company has an understanding of what athletes want from sports gear. “Customers will be fitted for a Warstic baseball bat just like being fitted for a custom suit,” Jenkins said.

The Deep Ellum flagship will also include a bar and restaurant called the Players’ Bar & Diner.