About This Blog

This blog features: neighborhood restaurants, nearby restaurants, downtown restaurants, Casa View Shopping Center, nearby shopping, Downtown shops.

I will first list places and my connections with them. For the spirit of completeness, I will then list other places, known to me but not visited. I choose not to list the unknown.

I like the section entitled Places I Wish I Had Visited.

My focus is places and locations which existed from 1953, when I moved to Dallas, until 1965, when I graduated from high school. This list will continue with my college years, until I turned 21. I left Dallas in 1969 and, as I did not return except to visit my parents until 1973, my memory of East Dallas ends at that time.

Some categories were easy to separate – restaurants and shopping. Some experiences are not so easy to categorize, but are still meaningful. They may be all lumped in together, and then teased out as other connections are made.

Music wise, we may have thought we were born of the “wrong generation.” I always thought the older generation (i.e. 3 to 4 years older than me) had a richer and deeper experience.

But we, the beginning of the Baby Boomer generation, had it best – stable family life, rising expectations for the middle class and parents who wanted to give so much to their children, which most did not have in their childhood. We were left to play and roam outdoors to make our own fun. We had the best toys and the best music.

And yet we lived in tumultuous times – the Cold War, Civil Rights, Integration and the Kennedy Assassination through the killings of Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King.

Hopefully we came out as loving, caring, sharing adults whose experiences made us better people and gave us the ability to show appreciation and gratitude for the neighborhood and experiences which enriched us and our loved ones.

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Casa View Shopping Center - How it all Began



Casa View Barber Shop 2522 Gus Thomasson Road
From booster chair to an adult hair cut, trying to convince Harless Oglesby to cut my hair in the European style.

Wrigley Grocery Store 310 Gus Thomasson Road
Opened November 1, 1957.  Played in the creek storm drain when the store stood.  Bought Easter chickens from the store.  Read comic books in the store, though they were too expensive at ten cents.

Texie Waterman School of Dance 10339 Gus Thomasson Road
Had Casa View Studio plus 2 others in Dallas - one at Walnut Hill, one in Garland.  Became the first choreographer for the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders.

Hall's Hobby House 2267 Gus Thomasson Road FA-1357
Opened November 2, 1955.  The original store on Bryan Street opened in 1945.  Bobbie's sister ran the Casa View store,.

Fred's Barbecue 2457 Gus Thomasson Road
Opened in 1955, their eighth location.

Wyatt's Cafeteria 2205 Gus Thomasson Road
Original Opened in 1952 in Lakewood.  By 1964 had five locations including Casa View.  Did Miss Inez play here or in Lochwood?

Buster Brown Shoe Store (maybe Crane's Shoes)
Had a fluoroscope scanner where you could see how your bones grow.

Casa View Rexall's 10305 Gus Thomasson Road
Opened by L.A. Spear.  His son, Michael, graduated BA 1965 in our class.

M.E. Moses 2367 Gus Thomasson Road DA-1-9886
The primary location for buying marbles, tops, kites, balsa wood airplanes.  TG&Y was located across the road by Western Auto.  We called it Toys, Guns and Yo-Yos.  There was another expensive toy store between W.T. Grants and Gary's Studio.  It had Matchbox cars and trucks.

C&S Hardware #2 2425 Gus Thomasson Road DA-7-3764 DYP63
Principal location to buy Whamo slingshots and steel balls.  Sold animal traps.  The site of a large fire in the Shopping Center.  The other store in Casa Linda, one in Northlake.

Gary Photography Casa View Studio 2239 Gus Thomasson Road DA-7-8297
Where we got our high school annual photographs taken. 
Comini Picture Land next to Grant's also sold Hallmark Cards.  DA-7-0041.  Must have sold out to Gary Photography DA-7-0041 WR 4/24/58

Texie Waterman School of Dance "Our 7th Year"
In Casa View Village, 10339 Ferguson Road, WR 8/21/59

Thom McCann Shoe Store 2478 Gus Thomasson Road WR 4/24/58
Opened April, 1958. 

Ben Tisinger Realtor 2357 Gus Thomasson Road DA-1-2651 4/24/58

Goodyear Service Store 2275 Gus Thomasson Road DA-7-8231 4/24/58

Skeet's Ice Cream Store
will open in Casa View Village, 10340 Ferguson Road, will be serving Carnation ice cream 6/26/58

Texie Waterman ended up marrying Arte Johnson of Rowan and Martin's Laugh In - very interesting.

Lone Star Doughnuts 2222 Gus Thomasson Road DA-7-6454 WR 3/23/62
Under new management.

Casa View Bakery 2409 Gus Thomasson Road DA-1-2467 3/23/62

Oak Cliff Savings Casa View Branch, 2508 Gus Thomasson Road 10/2/78

Brad's Diamonds and Watches 10344 Ferguson Road

Casa View Cycle Shop 2405 Gus Thomasson Road DA-7-1361
Authorized Schwinn dealer 1/26/61

Kenwood Studios 2438 Gus Thomasson Road
Also had a studio at 217 Lake Park, Casa Linda and 5405 East Grand Avenue 2/16/61

Henry Metzler's Sight and Sound Center 2590 Gus Thomasson Road DA-4-4208
Excellent radio and TV service, next to J.C. Penneys 6/8/61

Derie Edgar Men's Wear 10315 Ferguson Road
Casa View Village 11/9/61

R.L. Stewart Texaco 10290 Ferguson Road DA-1-3279 12/21/61

Alcoholics Anonymous 2173 Gus Thomasson Road
Fridays 8 pm 1/13/61

Youngblood's Fried Chicken #11 Gus Thomasson Road DA-7-0360
#1 126 E. Colorado plus two others (1963)

Sandy's Shoes #1 2572 Gus Thomasson Road DA-1-1764
Red Goose shoes.

Copeland Shoes #1 2319 Gus Thomasson Road
Polly Parrot shoes.

Crane Shoes 2265 Gus Thomasson Road
Had a fluoroscope machine so you could see the bones in your feet inside the shoe.  I have always worn Florsheim leather shoes.  Allen-Edmundson are the only ones now made in the United States.

Casa View Record Shop 2355 Gus Thomasson Road DA-7-4482

Vic Maden Jewelers 2320 Gus Thomasson Road
Sold the Balfour class rings, BA Annual 1963
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16 comments:

  1. wild billJune 10, 2014 at 10:35 AM

    TY FOR THIS MEMORY,, AS I LIVED BY CASA VIEW FROM 1958 THRU 1978, I RECALL MOST ALL OF THIS AND EVERY STREET AND CREEK AFK DRANIAGE DITCH I WOUL DALWAYS TAKE TO VISIT CASAVIEW SC, I STILL HAVE MANY PICS OF MYFOND MEMORYS OF MY YOUTH , OF ALL THE PLACES STORES, SCHOOLS AND CREEKS IN THAT AREA,,,, NICE OT KNOW SOMEONE ELSE RECALLS IT FONDLY AS I DO, I DID LEAND HOW TO FLY AT WHITE ROCK AIRPORT B4 IT CLOSED IN 1975,,,,,, AW THE MEMORYS,, TY SO VERY MUCH! BILLY BOULET, NEWCOMB ROAD,

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. UnknownFebruary 4, 2015 at 5:00 PM

      wild bill - I lived on Tealford Dr. in the early sixites and also moved to North Mesquite that same decade. I dont know how to contact you but if you see this post I am seeking photographs of the Casa View/ Linda area for a website project I had in mind. If you have pics digitized and wish to share let me know. Your neighbor, DC follow-up comments will contact me.

      Delete
    2. Mark GrayFebruary 9, 2021 at 4:06 AM

      I went to Bryan Adams with Camey Tuley. Her dad was Brad, from Brad's Diamonds and Watches, which was next door to Wyatts Cafeteria. My dad bought me a Slot Car set from Hall's Hobby House in probably 1960 for Christmas. There was a Jack in the Box in the parking lot on the southwest section Casa View, Gus Thomasson and Ferguson Road. A bunch of us guys would hang out there on Friday and Saturday nights. One night we were hanging out when about ten squad cars, lights and all... came down Gus Thomasson heading west toward Peavy. They pulled into the Jack in the Box, just before Ferguson, and hauled about thirty of us down to the Northeast Substation on Northwest Highway for loitering. They took our pictures and locked us all up until our parents came down to the station to take us home... Great memories!!! I grew up near Lochwood, Garland Road and Jupiter area. Rielly Elementary, then Hill Junior High, then graduated BA in 1969. Growing up in North East Dallas was AWESOME!!!

      Delete
    3. Mark GrayFebruary 9, 2021 at 4:13 AM

      I went to Bryan Adams with Camey Tuley. Her dad was Brad, from Brad's Diamonds and Watches, which was next door to Wyatts Cafeteria. My dad bought me a Slot Car set from Hall's Hobby House in probably 1960 for Christmas. There was a Jack in the Box in the parking lot on the southwest section Casa View, Gus Thomasson and Ferguson Road. A bunch of us guys would hang out there on Friday and Saturday nights. One night we were hanging out when about ten squad cars, lights and all... came down Gus Thomasson heading west toward Peavy. They pulled into the Jack in the Box, just before Ferguson, and hauled about thirty of us down to the Northeast Substation on Northwest Highway for loitering. They took our pictures and locked us all up until our parents came down to the station to take us home... Great memories!!! I grew up near Lochwood, Garland Road and Jupiter area. Rielly Elementary, then Hill Junior High, then graduated BA in 1969. Growing up in North East Dallas was AWESOME!!!

      Delete
    4. Mark GrayFebruary 9, 2021 at 4:15 AM

      Well, y'all got a double post!!! 🤣🤣

      Delete
    5. WJApril 1, 2022 at 3:58 AM

      Mark,
      I grew up on Norwood in Casa View
      My first job was working at that Jack in the Box!
      It was always a gathering place of teenagers and fast cars

      Jack and Jill bowling alley on Garland Rd was another spot

      Remember Prince of Hamburgers?
      Underwood’s Barbecue
      Bedford’s Steak House ( home of the world’s largest salad bar) ?

      El Fenix in Casa Linda still a favorite
      I agree that it was a great place to grow up!

      Delete
  2. UnknownJune 14, 2015 at 2:21 PM

    I remember getting yelled at for riding bikes in that courtyard with the marble type floor near the barber shop. I lived on Farola Drive all through school. BA Class of 75

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mark GrayFebruary 9, 2021 at 4:18 AM

      I remember that courtyard... I drove through Casa View just today, on my way from Keller's on Garland Road. It as a great area to have grown up in! BA Class of 69.

      Delete
  3. MatthewSeptember 18, 2017 at 3:06 PM

    I grew up over on Montalba and went to school at Casa View Elem. Does anyone remember the name of the restaurant between the library and the shoe store? They had AMAZING hashbrowns.

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    1. UnknownSeptember 19, 2017 at 5:39 PM

      Not sure what time period you are referring to but all I remember in that area of the shopping center was Fred's BBQ. Looking on Google street view nowadays I hardly recognize Casa View SC like it was from the beginning till the late 80's.

      Delete
  4. SanMedinaNovember 15, 2019 at 7:44 AM

    They are great memories !! I grew up over there as well. Billy, I knew you and went to school with Patty !!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousApril 11, 2020 at 10:52 AM

    I grew up on Benbrook St from 1953 -1962. Most of the places you listed I remember well. May I add 2 additions to your list? Orleys Hamburgers was across the street from the Casa View Barber Shop. They featured 5 hamburgers for $1. And Ashburns Ice cream 5 cents per dip! These two shops were paradise for a child

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    Replies
    1. WJApril 1, 2022 at 3:41 AM

      Great Burgers

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    2. WJApril 1, 2022 at 3:45 AM

      Orley was a big German guy who loved kids
      He would pull his sleeve back to show his bicep and then pretend to blow his thumb to inflate his muscle
      Kids always asked him to do it !

      Delete
  6. WJApril 1, 2022 at 4:33 AM

    Bob
    Great list of Casa View Shopping Center
    I would like to add:
    Ward’s Cut Rate Drugs
    Tom Thumb Grocery Store in same area as Jack in the Box
    Pizza Restaurant next to it ( name ? )
    7 Eleven across from Tom Thumb
    We used to take our TV tubes there to test
    and buy replacement ( neat machine )
    We bought groceries at A& P grocery store near M E Moses !
    It’s a Walmart now

    ReplyDelete
  7. WJApril 1, 2022 at 7:29 AM

    The fire you mentioned at C& S hardware to Rexal was a Friday night
    We were coming up Ferguson from a Bryan Adams football game at Forrester field stadium
    1965 possibly 1966

    ReplyDelete

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