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Content from our friends over at Dallas Progress

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

New Oak Cliff Save-a-Lot is more than just a grocery store

by Michael Davis of Dallas Progress

Yesterday was a great day in Oak Cliff. The Save-A-Lot grocery store had its official ribbon cutting for the brand new store at the Crest Shopping Center in the 2600 Block of Lancaster (map). Note: the Google street view also shows how it looked before the renovation.

Dwaine Caraway and I, along with Mayor Leppert, city staff, neighbors, and the shopping center developer have been working on this for nearly two years. We were first looking at putting the store across the street from its current location. Everyone settled on keeping the store in the shopping center. The neighbors' input was used in creating the store, from the items stocked on the shelves and beyond.

Save-A-Lot is an important part of this community. In these times, Save-A-Lot provides the opportunity for a family to get a healthy, balanced meal for $5. Compared to buying fast food every night for dinner because it's cheap, a void is being filled in this neighborhood. People couldn't wait to get into the store, as you can see people pushing carts by us even as the press conference progressed.

One major bonus: Save-A-Lot donated 5,000 pounds of food to the North Texas Food Bank! According to one of their reps that translates into 100 full carts of groceries for needy families at a time when donations are shrinking.

As I have said from the beginning, this is bigger than just a new grocery store.

In the process, the new store also provided us an opportunity to get rid of the asbestos filled theater that was on the north side of the center. The theater had been vacant for years and could not be rented due to the aforementioned issues. Now there's a new grocery store in its place.

Mickey's Catfish, owned by Vincent Hall, has just opened in the last couple of months. The mall and the neighborhood has a lot more energy now vs. before Dwaine took office.

You will also see that the entire mall is undergoing an extensive renovation and repaving, which was spearheaded by everyone working with the owners of the center as part of our Lancaster Road Initiative.

One of the comments that struck me the most were the ones made by Rick Meyer from Save-A-Lot:

"I'd like to take Dwaine on some road shows with me, (and) teach some folks in other communities what it's all about to be a good partner."

A comment like that makes it all worthwhile. When you see the various articles and conferences held with respect to what Southern Dallas needs to bring growth and development, this is what it's all about. You can say it and claim you're a leader all day long, but just like a World Series Championship baseball team you need a starter and a closer. We have that in our Mayor and Dwaine. This is one of the reason that I'm glad they're both in office and in leadership positions on City Council. In his remarks, the Mayor also hinted at another store to be announced for District Four pretty soon!

This store and center will always be special to me. It's where Dwaine's campaign office was located when he first took office. The neighborhood was promised that this center would be a catalyst for positive change in that part of Oak Cliff and along Lancaster Road. I can't count the number of nights we walked the center hoping that we could someday be a part of its turnaround. It's here, but there's more to come. The work is not done, but we're moving in the right direction.

Video is below:

Remarks from from Rick Meyer, Vice President of Save-A-Lot.

Remarks from Vanessa Foster from Save-A-Lot and Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert.

Remarks from Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Dwaine Caraway

Remarks from Cathy Misko and Vanessa Foster of Save-A-Lot and officials from the North Texas Food Bank.

Pegasus News content partner - Dallas Progress

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Travis Bush says:

Great news for Oak Cliff..

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5 months, 2 weeks ago
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alexander troup says:

That old place I used to hood at, needs more grocery stores and good ones too....good story lets get more on this action....A/T once upon a time in the O.C hood....and it felt good.......OAK CLIFF....

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5 months, 2 weeks ago
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DC says:

This person needs to rename his internet life "I Love Dwaine Caraway" or "Could Dwaine Caraway Please Appoint Me to Some Kind of Council Like Next Tuesday?"

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5 months, 2 weeks ago
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Michael Davis says:

One thing I forgot to mention: the shopping center owner kicked out the cabaret and dance hall tenants, which has also helped the neighborhood.

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5 months, 2 weeks ago
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Chris Kidd says:

I agree with ya mike, this is a good thing for the southern sector, as there isnt alot of decent "true" grocery stores in the area. I applaude the city and private business getting together to get this done.

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5 months, 2 weeks ago
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OEsophagus says:

This isn't really Oak Cliff. Cedar Crest, maybe. Fruitdale?