West End Neighborhood

The West End is an interesting combination of the old and the new. The area is a historic district that dates back to the mid 1800’s and was one of Dallas’ first developed areas. But today’s West End is filled with exciting shops, comfy lofts and apartments and beautiful old brick buildings that have been turned into restaurants, clubs and boutiques. The West End is one of the most popular spots to call home in all of Dallas and when you take a closer look at this great neighborhood, it is easy to see why!

The beginnings of the West End are meager. It started out as one of the original shopping districts in old Dallas. In 1872, the cross country railway system arrived in Dallas and the West End was set up for manufacturing and industry. To this day, the main architecture and “look” of the West End can be traced back to these warehouses and manufacturing plants that defined the area 130 years ago. The mid-1900’s saw a time of recession and financial struggle in the West End, as was the case throughout most of urban Dallas. Areas like Arlington and Irving sprang to prominence and many corporations that had called downtown and the West End home for generations fled to the suburbs. In the mid 1970’s, the West End was saved from sure demolition to remain as a historic district. It was over the next 20 years that the West End rose from the ashes like a Phoenix to become the fashionable and amazing spot it is today. Urban residents fixed up dilapidated units for residential and commercial use and once the people came back, clubs, restaurants and even corporations came back, too. Much like The Flats in Cleveland and even The French Quarter in New Orleans, this historic district is today a shining jewel of Dallas’ amazing past and a sure sign of its bright future.

The West End stands today as one of the single biggest tourist areas in the city. At last count, over seven million people a year flock to the West End to enjoy its shops, architecture and restaurants. There is even a cadre of respected museums in the West End that draw an affluent crowd, and extra tourist dollars, to the West End every year.

The question many new residents to Dallas ask themselves is if they can afford to call the West End home. While there are many high end apartment towers and giant old brick lofts in the West End, there are also bargains out there. Every neighborhood in Dallas has apartment values out there, some are just harder to find than others.

The West End is truly one of Dallas’ most respected and sought after areas. It is brimming with history and with a population that looks to leave its own mark on this venerated area. With its selection of restaurants, easy access to shopping and good public transit, the West End shows no signs of dropping off the list of most desirable places to live in the country.