Prior to beginning my freshman year at SMU, friends of my parents and the other adults in my life filled me with exciting information and the legend that is Dallas. I was told that while living in Texas, I would have to visit the Alamo, pose with Big Tex at the State Fair and learn how to drink multiple margaritas and eat a large man’s fill of the greasiest Mexican food without having to relieve myself in a state of personal hell in a bathroom stall. And, finally, Deep Ellum was given rave reviews due to its historically fantastic local music scene. One can only imagine my excitement for all that was about to come.
On my first visit to SMU (pre-freshman year) I toured the campus with a friend from home who was also novice to all things Texas. While showing me around the high-class beauty that is Highland Park, I was forewarned, “Don’t go into Deep Ellum!”
Her warning came with stories of rape, murder, thievery and all-out urban debauchery, much too indecent for a college co-ed, happily nestled in her SMU cradle.
However, this warning was not just heard by my virginal ears but made its way to the greater public of Dallas that previously packed Elm Street’s bars and clubs, in search for live music, unique to the area.
While it may be due to the all and all state of putrescence that has become Deep Ellum, the crowds have stopped flocking and what remains are the homeless, tourists from Plano (apologies to anyone from Plano) and hundreds of SMU students, tightly huddled together on the night O.A.R. plays the Gypsy Tea Room. And, because of empty bar rooms and lonely dance floors that used to be occupied by thousands, several legendary locales have been forced to close their doors indefinitely, including Deep Ellum staples, Club Dada and Trees.
Forced into closing due to bankruptcy on Dec. 21 and Dec. 28, respectively, Club Dada and Trees were physical representations of what Deep Ellum used to be and what the area has now become. Previously the venues of choice for bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, The Dave Matthews Band and Soundgarden, Deep Ellum club’s porches have been the sites for shootings and other crimes, including the face-bashing of an Assassination City roller-girl by a Dallas Police officer (but that’s another story still under investigation.)
Others may blame the rising reputation of trend-tastical Uptown and the West End for the gradual demise of Deep Ellum’s popularity. However, this might just signal the cycle that all major U.S. cities go through on their rise to wealth and riches. It was not too long ago (I was alive, at least) that New York City was touting the revamping of Times Square as a place for family, not fiascos.
So, maybe this is just the start of Dallas’ up-and-coming-ness as one of the U.S.’ most popular cities and a signal for Deep Ellum to begin its eventual makeover.
