Deep Ellum, Dallas, TX

The population in Deep Ellum is a kaleidoscope of the human experience.  Here you will find painters, poets, bums, business owners, actors, and artists, all coexisting to the rhythm of life in a big city.  This may not be the East Village, but it’s the closest you will get for about 2000 miles.  You will find people from all over the area drawn to this crossroads of Dallas culture.  This is a very social area by nature.  The inhabitants of Deep Ellum embody that.  Be prepared to share a drink, cigarette, or cup of coffee with most of your neighbors in deep talks about life.  The vast majority of Deep Ellum dwellers have a deep appreciation for the arts and tend to lean towards the more liberal side of life.  May not be the best idea to hang a conservative protest sign outside your door.  It would probably be gone by morning, or be graffititied with a witty retort.

The social scene in Deep Ellum in essence is Deep Ellum.  In every bar, restaurant, and club, you will find a  little enclave of regulars, particularly on the weekends.  Most places welcome first timers and it wont be long before you are frequenting your favorite night spot and meeting folks from all over the metroplex for your favorite drink special or band. These cluster mainly around Commerce Street and Elm Street, the two main thoroughfairs in Deep Ellum. 

Bars and Clubs:

Some must see Bars/Clubs are the Lizard Lounge, Club Dada, and the Curtain Club.  These are your mainstream clubs with an ecclectic mix of music, drinks, and plently of special events to keep things moving and patrons coming.  These are not as snazzy as Club Purgatory, the big name in Dallas, but the lines are moderate as moderate clubs go, and you are sure to see some good bands and have a great time.

Up and down Commerce and Elm you will find a slew of clubs each with its own unique twist.  From Club Galaxy to Club Hush to The Velvet Hookah to Trees, there is a hot spot for every type of music, food, and crowd.  The best way to experience the nightlife and scene is to get to Deep Ellum early (for parking reasons) and just walk around.  During busy weekends the police block off the streets from automobile traffic so the pedestrain have run of the main drags.  Be ready to pay cover at the the bigger places, but the earlier you go the easier it is to get in.  Be ready to stick around until 3am or so.  The clubs really don’t get moving until about 11pm.

Restaurants:

The clubs may rule the night scene in Deep Ellum, but the day is a feast for the foodies.  Culinary diversity abounds in Deep Ellum, with an option for every taste and appetite.  Classic diner cuisine is served hot and fresh at Café Brazil and All Good Café.  Both great places to stop for a sandwich, soup, or a cup of coffee.  For more refined faire make a stop at Daddy Jacks  or  The French Room.  The list goes on and on.  As with the club scene, an eating expedition is a must in Deep Ellum.  Stroll along and enjoy the countles eateries, small and large, many of which boast prestigeous awards and legendary status among the locals.  

For the Dallas/Ft Worth Area the rental prices for apartments in Deep Ellum are a little on the steep side.  But for the proximity to the downtown area you can’t beat the value.  Because most of the rentals in the area are lofts (one large open area) expect to pay by the square foot.  The averageprice is about $1 per square foot so most lofts run about $800 to $900 which is still a fantastic price compared to lofts in most metropolitan areas around the US.  Additionally these lofts are owned and managed by individuals instead of corporations.  Get to know your landlord really well because this will make or break your stay in Deep Ellum.  It’s also a great idea to stop by the shops/bars/restaurants beneath your prospective loft apartment a few times to decide if this location works for your life style. You will find abodes hovering over everything from tattoo parlors and night clubs to breakfast boutiques and art studios.  Choose wisely my friends.

Deep Ellum has slowed down a little over the last few years and as such the parking has gotten a little bit better.  During busy weekends still expect to go a little off the beaten path to some worrisome back streets to park your car.  Pay lots arent too bad, and valet is moderately common depending on the venue.

Like most of Texas, it helps to have a car to get around in Dallas/Ft. Worth.  Unlike most of Texs, you can survive without one in Deep Ellum.  With DART (Dallas Area Rapid Transit) serving the downtown area with buses and trains to get you around to most any where in the city and a few suburbs it really is fairly easy to get where you need to go with out dropping a paycheck at the gas tank.  With DART Blue Line Stops up and Down Commerce and Elm, you can hop a bus to connecting stations that can get you anywhere in DFW.  Go to www.dart.org for Maps and Schedules.  Daily passes are about $5.  An Annual Pass for individuals is $500, not too bad when you consider most of DFW will spend $500 a month on average for carpayments, insurance, and gas.

While Deep Ellum is one of the more ‘hip’ places to live in Dallas, it is still going under major renovations to come back from a heavy decline in 2005-2006.  This will definetly work in your favor when it comes to renting.  New apartments and lofts are being completed on a monthly basis and due to the slightly above average crime rate, tenants aren't exactly lining up to move in.  This will most likely not be the case in the next year or so.  After the completion of Victory Park and all of the renovations surrounding the Americal Airlines Center, money is pouring in from the City of Dallas to revitalize the downtown area in the way of public works, improved streets, incentives to upscale business, and most importantly public safety. 

Do:

·         When renting a loft make sure to check out your downstairs neighbor.  Most of the shops and restaurants on the first floor operate during normal business hours.  Some are rocking until 4am.  It’s worth while to have a chat with the owners before you move in rather than after to see what you are getting into.

·         Check with your landlord to see if the offer the DART Resident Annual Pass.  It costs $35 instead of the normal $500 Individual Annual Pass for unlimited use of the DART System.

·         Come with a figure in mind that you want to pay and don’t budge.  There are plenty of lofts in Deep Ellum and not as many tenants waiting to move in.  About $1 per square foot is average.

Don’t:

·         Get pressured into buying because there is a ‘buyer waiting’.  There are plenty of Lofts  in Deep Ellum.

·         Get a place on the ground floor.  Deep Ellum is getting safer, but its stil not that safe.  Hence the reason for so many lofts.

As with any downtown dwelling, life on pets, particularly larger dogs, can be a little difficult.  With few places to run and frolic, it used to be quite a trek for folks living in Deep Ellum to make the drive to dog parks in White Rock Lake or Garland.  But thanks to the efforts of a few dedicated people and pooches a wonderful dog park has been constructed and continues to thrive in Deep Ellum just off of Elm Street. With 1.2 acres and 6ft fences the Deep Ellum Dog Park@ Downtown Dallas has become an oasis for canines and their companions.  With plenty of parking and located within walking distance of a good number of lofts, this dog park completes the picture for prospective Deep Ellum Tenants looking to make the move. For more information check out their website at www.deepellumdogpark.com . 

While the main draw of Deep Ellum continues to be its clubs/musical venues and nightlife, a deep vein of artistry draws creative individuals from all over the Metroplex to fill its many studios and galleries.  Deep Ellum offers a variety of art galleries where you can expand your horizons through classic and neo-visual arts.  Some local favorites include the 500X Gallery, Barry Whistler Gallery, Angstrom Gallery, and a few others of note.  You can also attend one of the 4 original comedies put on each season at the Pegasus Theater. In addition to the great venues located in Deep Ellum, you also have your pick from great attractions located in nearby Downtown Dallas.  The Dallas World Aquarium, Dallas Museum of Art, and American Airlines Center are just minutes away from most lofts on Commerce and Elm Street. 

The prime location to get the full Deep Ellum ‘experience’ is most anywhere on Elm or Commerce.  These are hotbeds of activity especially on the weekend.  It is on either of these streets, especially above the more frequented restaurants, that you will get the ambiance of living in a major metropolitan area.  There are some newer lofts that are being built closer to the highways, and while a little more expensive, these are going to be more developed areas, with better facilities, that are corporately owned and operated.  The further north you go, the more run down things get.  There are some houses that are being rebuilt as you get closer to Baylor Medical Center, but for the most part the suburbs to the north of Deep Ellum are really hit or miss.

Most everything in Deep Ellum is going to be walking distance or a short drive/bus ride away.

Most grocery stores are going to be a mile or two up Main Street as it turns into Columbia, but Food-mart Benny’s on Main and Good Latimer is a good local choice, and in the heart of the Deep Ellum area.  Henry Street Market is another option in the form of a convenience store that is one block south of Benny’s.

Bank of America and a slew of local credit unions make up the banking establishments servicing Deep Ellum.  Several Banks are in the general area of Ervay and Main St.  Like most of your options in Deep Ellum, the smaller independently owned banks are going to be the primary place business is done in the area.

Gyms are going to be on the outskirts of Deep Ellum, mainly further north.  There is a YMCA on North Akard that isn’t too far, and the Sweat Shop off of Akard and Pacific that caters more to those interested in aerobics classes.  Main stream gyms such as 24 Hour Fitness and Bally’s are within driving distance, but again are located further north on Main/Columbia.

Both the Post Office and Dry Cleaning are at the corner of Ervay and Main.  This is an intersection where you will find many incidentals, including banks and a few spots to eat.

Deep Ellum located to several colleges such as Southern Methodist University, University of Dallas, and El Centro College.  The highways and public transportation make for fairly easy access barring traffic.  The Dallas Public School System is available but has had issues in the past with poor test scores and limited equipment.  Deep Ellum is a great place for those college aged kids continuing higher education, but if you are looking to raise a family in a public school system you may be better off looking at some of the suburbs outside of Dallas.