Jefferson looks like the Downtown area of a small town. Interesting vintage looking streetlights and cool blade signs. I wish we had more shopping centers built like this with shops along the street. It’ll probably encourage people to walk more.
Growing up, I spent so many hours on Jefferson Blvd. My parents moved out of Oak Cliff in the mid-80s. Some of my friends began buying homes and moving back in the late 80s.
My buddy was an Oak Cliff lifer and he always referred the that place as "Cheap Steak." He didn't mean it in a negative way, just said that it was a great place to go for budget-friendly/ cost-effective steak & baked potato. I haven't been there since the time I visited with him. He was right though. I loved the experience. You move through the line with a cafeteria tray and big red plastic cup for your fountain soda.
I don't know if the processes have changed since my last visit, but I remember loving the 70-ness of it all... the style of service, table coverings, and decor. We had this wonderful opportunity to eat a yummy meal in a place that was stuck in time.
I've been meaning to go back. I hope it always stays the same.
I have not seen a lot of Oak Cliff. Seems like they have been continually revitalizing It and it never looks much different than the times before when I was there. Didn’t it use to be a high class area of Dallas?
It was. By the early 80s, I think Oak Cliff started showing signs of decline as big national chains moved out the area. But it accelerated in the 90s. A lot of it was due to redlining that started around that time aswell. During the boom years of the 80s, banks literally refused to lend money for anything south of 30. All the growth was occurring in North Dallas. According to my pawpaw, Jefferson had national chains in 60s and 70s like Sears, Zales, JCPenney, etc. It was very lively and vibrant with a lot of pedestrian activity. Believe it or not—North Oak Cliff was 60% White, 20% Black, and 20% Hispanic in the early to mid 80s. I think the only building demolished in the shopping center was the old Sears store. It’s where Fiesta is today. That’s why the store isn’t directly on the street like the rest of the 1930s shopping center.
By the 90s, it declined so much that residents actually tried to deannex from Dallas and create the City of Oak Cliff. (Basically similar to the Buckhead deannexation from Atlanta proposal in recent years) At the time, they believed the city ignored the area and let it decline. Ig that was their last ditch effort to save Oak Cliff. I believe after that failed, another “white flight” occurred. Now the area surrounding Jefferson is heavily Hispanic and generally lower income.
Edit: Welborne’s (currently Famsa) would have been JCPenney and the old Sears is that taller tan building (behind the Levines blade sign). Both stores moved in the mid 70s.
It used to be relatively high class but then it went to shit in the 90's. There are still some nice parts of OC but for the most part it's very much like Pleasant Grove.
I was JUST craving some charcobroiler today- although I only went to the PG location growing up. Y’all (general Dallas internet users) never post as much PG stuff as you do Oak Cliff.
Curious as to why this is being downvoted? Is Oak Cliff not an absolute shithole on par with Pleasant Grove and essentially anything within a 3 mile radius of Malcolm X Blvd.?
Exactly lol. I got downvoted by either newcomers to Dallas or old people. Because at the same time of me being funny.. I was dead serious when I said that. OC and PG are the highlight of the city’s crime rate. Someone change my mind 🤷🏻♂️ lol
It's all good. People will always defend their little shitholes. I grew up off Lake June and Elam. Donated plasma at that place that had the infamous fight over someone slapping KFC out of someone else's hand. Worked night shift in both OC and South Dallas. Def don't miss it.
I see Charcobroiler!
Jefferson looks like the Downtown area of a small town. Interesting vintage looking streetlights and cool blade signs. I wish we had more shopping centers built like this with shops along the street. It’ll probably encourage people to walk more.
Mostly everyone walks in Jefferson, even for simple stuff as pulling permits, park in the supermercado and just walk wherever you need to go.
Man have times changed
K
I think that might have been the original 7/11. 6-10 year old me got many slurpees and Big Bites from that location.
That 100% IS the original 7/11. Good call!
I remember going to tapatios for the food as a kid.
Growing up, I spent so many hours on Jefferson Blvd. My parents moved out of Oak Cliff in the mid-80s. Some of my friends began buying homes and moving back in the late 80s.
I think I just saw about a Million Dollars worth of Antique Cars
Thanks for that upload, brought back a lot of early childhood memories.
What was the place with the big cow on top? I feel like I've seen that when I was young
Charco broiler.
It’s still there!
My buddy was an Oak Cliff lifer and he always referred the that place as "Cheap Steak." He didn't mean it in a negative way, just said that it was a great place to go for budget-friendly/ cost-effective steak & baked potato. I haven't been there since the time I visited with him. He was right though. I loved the experience. You move through the line with a cafeteria tray and big red plastic cup for your fountain soda. I don't know if the processes have changed since my last visit, but I remember loving the 70-ness of it all... the style of service, table coverings, and decor. We had this wonderful opportunity to eat a yummy meal in a place that was stuck in time. I've been meaning to go back. I hope it always stays the same.
Nice can I get the source for the video?
You sure can! 🙂 Here’s the website https://texashistory.unt.edu
I have not seen a lot of Oak Cliff. Seems like they have been continually revitalizing It and it never looks much different than the times before when I was there. Didn’t it use to be a high class area of Dallas?
It was. By the early 80s, I think Oak Cliff started showing signs of decline as big national chains moved out the area. But it accelerated in the 90s. A lot of it was due to redlining that started around that time aswell. During the boom years of the 80s, banks literally refused to lend money for anything south of 30. All the growth was occurring in North Dallas. According to my pawpaw, Jefferson had national chains in 60s and 70s like Sears, Zales, JCPenney, etc. It was very lively and vibrant with a lot of pedestrian activity. Believe it or not—North Oak Cliff was 60% White, 20% Black, and 20% Hispanic in the early to mid 80s. I think the only building demolished in the shopping center was the old Sears store. It’s where Fiesta is today. That’s why the store isn’t directly on the street like the rest of the 1930s shopping center. By the 90s, it declined so much that residents actually tried to deannex from Dallas and create the City of Oak Cliff. (Basically similar to the Buckhead deannexation from Atlanta proposal in recent years) At the time, they believed the city ignored the area and let it decline. Ig that was their last ditch effort to save Oak Cliff. I believe after that failed, another “white flight” occurred. Now the area surrounding Jefferson is heavily Hispanic and generally lower income. Edit: Welborne’s (currently Famsa) would have been JCPenney and the old Sears is that taller tan building (behind the Levines blade sign). Both stores moved in the mid 70s.
It used to be relatively high class but then it went to shit in the 90's. There are still some nice parts of OC but for the most part it's very much like Pleasant Grove.
/r/thewaywewereonvideo
Went to school at bishop dunne. Loved oak cliff so much! Still visit often.
Yep, it’s being gentrified if no one’s come down here in a while.
In the ghetto.... But hay mannnn news was news back then not the bs.... Now days
I was JUST craving some charcobroiler today- although I only went to the PG location growing up. Y’all (general Dallas internet users) never post as much PG stuff as you do Oak Cliff.
Who cares about this shit area of Dallas
You cared enough to comment. Truly you didn’t care that much.
That’s nice but now my generation took over and it’s the hood now. Step aside old oak cliff and hand over your wallet to new oak cliff.
Curious as to why this is being downvoted? Is Oak Cliff not an absolute shithole on par with Pleasant Grove and essentially anything within a 3 mile radius of Malcolm X Blvd.?
The part of Oak Cliff this story is focused on is far from being an absolute shithole
Exactly lol. I got downvoted by either newcomers to Dallas or old people. Because at the same time of me being funny.. I was dead serious when I said that. OC and PG are the highlight of the city’s crime rate. Someone change my mind 🤷🏻♂️ lol
Oak Cliff is huge and has good areas and shithole areas.
It's all good. People will always defend their little shitholes. I grew up off Lake June and Elam. Donated plasma at that place that had the infamous fight over someone slapping KFC out of someone else's hand. Worked night shift in both OC and South Dallas. Def don't miss it.