By Taylor Adams Cogan
Plenty of people in Dallas think they know Deep Ellum. Even more feel they can speak about it with authority – who’s there, what it’s about, how safe it is (or isn’t). But to understand the reality of this urban neighborhood, it’s better to talk to a resident, especially one who’s been living in the area for more than 15 years.
Shane Orr was first drawn to the entertainment district as his home for one reason: walkability. Making his homebase on Commerce Street, he settled into the Mitchell Lofts, where he was able to get anything and anywhere he needed on foot.
In fact, he settled in so well that he bought his own place around 2017, on the eastern end of the neighborhood on Exposition Avenue. Seeing as he’s walked the neighborhood, eaten at the restaurants, and lived among neighbors in Deep Ellum since before 2010, he’s seen some evolution.
“Despite its ups and downs, and what people think is good for the neighborhood or not, it’s still where the action is,” he says. “It’s still the entertainment district where people cut their teeth, from business ownership to restaurants and other types of businesses.
“Some people will say it’s good, some people say it’s bad. I’ll say it changes.”
Shane moved into the neighborhood just as more businesses were starting to pick up in Deep Ellum. Thankfully, we did have the institutions such as Angry Dog, St. Pete’s Dancing Marlin, and Pepe & Mito’s. But we’d soon see more people walking under the highway to make their trips to the then-new Canne Rosso, Twisted Root, and more. Jump forward a decade, and we’ve seen a high-rise go up, streets beautified, and businesses come and go.
“I have definitely been through at least a cycle and a half, where Deep Ellum was considered a little dead, not a lot of action. Then, I’ve seen it obviously spike. Then, I’ve seen it starting to try to turn a corner and maybe try to gentrify a little bit,” he says. “Whether that’s good, who’s to say? It depends on what your definitions are of that, but I welcome the change, and I’m excited for change.”
When change comes to Deep Ellum, there’s something about it that persists in keeping what we love most about it. That something is the artists, businesses, residents, and any ally who know why this neighborhood is special.
It’s why Shane still enjoys a tuna steak at St. Pete’s, what he considers the city’s best ramen at Ichigoh Ramen Lounge, or what many consider one of the best burgers at Adair’s Saloon. It’s also why he and his wife still work from their townhome a stone’s throw from the action.
“Everybody has a perspective, a picture painted in mind about Deep Ellum. It definitely gets mentioned a lot when you’re looking at comments on social media,” he says. “But throughout the day, and at other hours, things have become more vibrant than they have been in the past. I’ve seen kids and strollers, and I had never seen them in the past, so I think that it’s perspective. I don’t know that everyone has seen that; some don’t really give it a chance or come down here often.”
Shane wouldn’t mind seeing some chef-driven, destination restaurants that bring more people who don’t know Deep Ellum to the neighborhood (and maybe then they’ll learn about all the rest that’s always been here). But he continues to take in all that the neighborhood has to offer.
“I also am a little bit of an East Deep Ellum sort of representative or spokesperson. I try to get the message out to the needs of East Deep Ellum/almost Exposition Park,” he says.
And he’ll stick to it.
“I have no plans to change that at this time,” he says. “For the foreseeable future, I’ll be a resident of Deep Ellum.”
