Tragic and heartwarming story behind bar Leeds dad runs with 'adopted' son
A Leeds man opened a bar dedicated to his late wife – and is running it with his 19-year-old ‘adopted’ son who he bonded with during his time of grief.
Daniel Fallas, 30, has opened up on the sweet story behind the name of Greens, in York Road, in Killingbeck. He opened the bar in July, two years after his wife Dakota, 30, died of pancreatic cancer.
‘Bubbly, welcoming and funny’ Dakota was given 24 months to live, but died within six months in October 2022. Dakota had actually worked for the NHS as a clinic support worker on the cancer wards, dedicating her life to helping people in the same position she found herself in.
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Daniel and Dakota, who share 11-year-old son Ethan, had always dreamed of owning a bar together. Tragically, this wasn’t to be. After Dakota was diagnosed, Daniel, from Swarcliffe, raced against to clock to marry the brave mum, from Swindon, before she died.
Daniel said: “Dakota was always bubbly, up for a laugh, a very inviting caring person, welcoming. I don’t think anyone could ask for a better mum as Dakota was to Ethan. She was a fantastic wife. She was a one in a million. I know it sounds cliché but it’s hard to find people like Dakota."
The 30-year-old said she’d initially been misdiagnosed and for months had been told her symptoms of throwing up were down to her weight – which he says had a devastating affect on her mental health.
“I didn’t deal with it well, I went into a spiral of depression. Whereas Dakota, she was holding it all together. When she got diagnosed, she was given a death sentence, there and then. It was stage four by the time they caught it.”
The couple set about arranging their wedding. Daniel said: “I’ve never planned a wedding in a month before. We actually got help from a charity called 'Gift of a Wedding'. It was one of Dakota’s work colleagues that put her forward for it. It was like going from ‘oh s***, I’ve just found out she’s got cancer’ to ‘I need to plan a wedding.’”
The dad-of-one had been working as an operations manager at a security firm but quit his job to dedicate his time to his sick wife and wedding planning. He says his boss was supportive and the job is even now still open for him if he ever wishes to return to it.
This heart-breaking period took a massive toll on Daniel and he had to get away from the house on various occasions to vent and let out all his grief.
'Luke is like my son'
Daniel and Dakota had previously adopted a foster child in order to provide him a more stable home. This boy was friends with Luke Thorpe, also based in Swarclifffe, and Daniel became good friends with Luke’s mum Nicola.
Their home became a refuge to Daniel when Dakota was sick and she needed a break. He would take son Ethan with him, and the young lad would play Playstation and Xbox with Luke. The four of them formed a familial bond.
Daniel explained that Luke would call him ‘dad’ as a private joke – but one time accidentally called Daniel ‘dad’ in front of his mum. Nicola warmed to the idea and said Luke could do with a ‘loving’ father figure.
Luke said his estranged biological dad left him when he was three years old, and when he eventually tried to get back in touch with him when he was 18, he just wasn’t interested in reconnecting as it was too little too late.
Speaking about his relationship with Daniel, Luke said: “He was so welcoming and funny. The way he acted, it just seemed like he was there for people all the time. Whenever he was having a bad day, I would always try and get there first to try and solve the issue or help him, support him in some way.
Daniel said: “Luke and Nicola were my get-out-of-the-home situation. I could go to them and have a chat. It was like a home away from home family unit and then it became something more serious. Me and Nicola are best friends. Luke is like my son.”
The 19-year-old says it was tough to watch Dakota looking completely ‘drained’ whenever he met her, adding everyone around her also seemed ‘drained’ as she was ‘everyone’s best friend’. Daniel says their wedding day was also a tough as Dakota was very ill, he worried about exacerbating that further. He says Ethan has remained strong throughout his mum’s illness and death.
Daniel and Dakota had always dreamed of opening a bar together where people could casually spend some time with a few drinks and socialise. Dakota was a very social person and loved having drinks with friends.
Daniel said: “Me and Dakota always spoke about owning a bar, never a pub or a restaurant. It was always mine and her dream together. Open a place where people could come and enjoy – and where she could drink for cheap! She was a party girl and loved a Jaeger Bomb.”
'New beginnings and new life'
Daniel opened Greens four months ago in July. He thought York Road in Killingbeck was the perfect location for the surrounding community as it was miles away from the nearest pub. He was so thankful that friends and loved ones helped him refurbish the unit – which he says had been smoke damaged by the previous tenants.
Luke had been studying to become a mechanic but didn’t enjoy the course. Daniel encouraged him to stick with it but said there was a job at Greens as its manager if he wanted it. He also brought Nicola and Ethan on board to help out. Ethan just loves his little green uniform and doing a spot of glass collecting every now and then - Daniel said he once earned £25 in tips in one evening.
There’s a plaque behind the bar which reads ‘Dedicated to Dakota. Always remembered. Always Loved. 1992 – 2022’. Daniel says he still feels her guiding presence when he’s working there and hopes to make her proud.
Explaining why he called the bar Greens, Daniel said: “Green was Dakota’s favourite colour. She loved all types of green. She used to love watching the leaves turning back to green in the spring and summer.
“She loved everything green, whether it was a Christmas tree, to outside trees, a bit of tinsel or her favourite t-shirt. She even made me buy a car that was green!
“She loved green because it represented new beginnings and new life.”
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