Morris 1

Brayden Morris

Dr. Rochelle Harris Cox

English 1102

4 / 21 / 24

Downtown Dallas: Frigid Warmth

Setting

Today was irregular considering the days prior. The odd warmth and rain had transformed

right back into brutal, winter cold- amplified by the powerful gusts of wind and lack of a

scorching sun. The gloomy February weather is reflected by the barren outdoor population. As I

roll down Main Street (arguably the core of the town) in my car, this reality became apparent to

me. The road is mostly empty, with no one but volunteers cleaning up the town to be seen. There

is the occasional body or two, but, naturally, they are scurrying indoors. Life in Downtown

Dallas seems uneventful, not at all how I remember it.

Maybe it was just the youthful glee of my early-teen aged self, but the town had a

reservoir of life and energy- granted most of my memory stems from the summer time. In one

particular memory, Main Street was bustling and people were happy and engaged. It was a day

out with my parents and my grandparents, who were visiting from Virginia. I disliked antique

stores or any place that did not have items that catered to young me, so of course I opted for

staying outside in the nice summer breeze while my parents toured away. Families had been

sitting all around me on the benches and the brick planter boxes, happy and enjoying the day.
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Occasionally, people walked by me on their way to their next destination, conversing and filling

Dallas with a comforting noise. Present day, winter time, Downtown Dallas did not compare.

The Coffee Shop

After the short and lonely drive before the parking lot, I turn into it. The lot containing

only a handful of cars confirms what I have been seeing; I am mostly alone, and the people that

are here are hiding indoors. I look straight ahead through my windshield and see the building

containing my only indoor destination- Good Stuff Coffeehouse. Downtown Dallas has featured

many coffee shops in the past, but they mostly come and go. This one, however, has been around

for over a year now, and with the amount of locals that frequent this place, I would say it is

around to stay.

I leave the car and embrace the powerful cold. Just like most people today, I want to be

indoors. I enter the coffee shop and walk down a few steps to get to ground level. Upon entering,

I smell the delights of your ordinary coffee shop. The warm, soothing scents of fresh coffee and

baked goods wafts and spirals around me, cleansing me of the evil cold I had just experienced.

Immediately, I feel comfort. I walk up to the counter to get ready to order.

“Hey, what can I get you?” the man at the register asks as I walk up. Normally, this is

where I would struggle; I am very indecisive. But whenever I treat myself and come here, I am

always after their monthly specials menu. Today was no different.

After just a few seconds of glancing that menu over, I respond, “I’ll get the iced

strawberry cheesecake matcha latte.” I am hungry, too, so I take a look at the case of food. The

chocolate chip muffin screams my name. “And I’ll get the muffin, please.”
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“Sure! Anything else?”

I shake my head “No.” and get my wallet out, ready to pay. He flips the screen around

and shows my total and the option to tip. I tap “no tip” for that, feeling guilty even though I have

cash to tip instead. Then, I get my card out to pay. It’s actually a brand new card I had gotten a

few days prior! I insert it into the screen using the slot at the top. “CARD DECLINED,” the

screen reads as it glows a bright red. That’s not good. I try it again. “CARD DECLINED.” Oh

boy. Now I feel embarrassed.

“Sometimes this thing acts up,” he says reassuringly. “Let me retry the payment.”

“CARD DECLINED.” Now this is getting silly. I certainly have enough money to pay for

a drink and muffin, so what could possibly be going wrong? Then it hits me: It’s actually a brand

new card I had gotten a few days prior. It needs activation, something I have been forgetting to

do for multiple days now.

Stuttering, I say, “I have another card I can try…” I insert that card and what do you

know: “ACCEPTED, PLEASE REMOVE CARD,” alongside a much more appealing bright

green screen.

He chuckles a bit, “That was odd!” Little does he know why. “Would you like your

muffin heated up?”

“Yes, please.” Luckily that interaction was more lighthearted than it was embarrassing. I

do not think it would have been as entertaining at a Starbucks. That just shows me the

welcoming environment of Downtown Dallas. I go and sit down at a table against the wall that

provides a clear view of the other seats. Shortly after, my name gets called and I walk up to the

other end of the counter for my drink and muffin. I thank the baristas, grab a straw and a few

napkins, and head back to my seat.

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I take a sip of my matcha latte and immediately have an out-of-body experience… it’s

really good. The strawberry cheesecake foam floating at the top of my drink bursts with a bright

flavor, while the pale green matcha underneath it mellows it out. Out of delight, I take a few

more sips, then stop to pace myself- I think I will be here for a while. The decor of this place is

lively and attractive. The corner diagonal of me reminds me a lot of an antique shop. The items

for sale (such as elegant smelling candles and quality-looking cups and mugs) and the things put

against the wall are a nice sight. Green is a very common color here with a few plants and other

items laying about. I take a bite from my muffin and feel pleased again. It’s very sweet, much

like the atmosphere and the small, but very bright, neon pink Valentine’s Day display on the wall

next to me.

The miniscule amount of cars in the parking lot belong to the few people eating and

drinking and talking in the coffee shop currently. Only a few tables contain people (about a

quarter of the tables are taken). The most common group I notice is students- likely belonging to

the Georgia Highlands campus in this very town- divided up between friend groups.

In 2018, the college had received a giant $4.1 million in funding to expand and renovate

the campus in Dallas. This investment would allow Highlands students to do more at this campus

all without needing to leave Dallas (Barker). With multiple students coming to and living in

Downtown Dallas, this coffee shop is the perfect hotspot. Even on an early Saturday morning,

their routine does not stop.

They were wise for coming so early, because just half an hour later the rest of the tables

begin to fill up- this time with a more diverse set of people. Each person has a drink in front of

them; mostly hot or iced coffee, but some enjoy the convenience of the monthly specials just as I

do. Each table features conversation- to me it is just noise, but to them it is something special.
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Whether they are conversing or doing school work, they all share something in common- the

peace of the atmosphere around them. I, too, enjoy it. I have slowly been enjoying my matcha

and my muffin, but after an hour of being slouched and confined to my nice seat, it is time to

leave.

Interlude

In chapter fifteen of Jan Rath’s and Wietze Gelmers’ book Urban Europe, the topic of

modern coffee houses is discussed. With advancements in technology and machinery comes an

advancement in coffee. Coffee beverages are extremely personal now, and feel like an experience

rather than just a drink. These shops exhibit an entirely different behavior, as well. Theories

suggest that people enjoy an environment where they are around others but are also socially

distant from them (Rath and Gelmers).

I believe this growth in coffee houses is a great thing. Their main impact seems to be the

effect on the surrounding community- such as Downtown Dallas. Its coffee shop draws in many

people each day- and keeps them there for hours due to its menu and environment. It is the

perfect spot for chatting and meeting with friends and family; or for lounging and relaxing in a

different atmosphere; or for (especially for students) studying and focusing. It is also loaded with

amenities such as furniture and WiFi, making it the perfect hotspot for anyone in the community.

This interactive environment brings people together and strengthens this community- even if

they mostly keep to themselves here.

Rath and Gelmers reach into the idea of a “third place,” a term coined by sociologist Ray

Oldenburg. This theory is elaborated upon by Paul Hickman in his paper “‘Third Places’ and
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Social Interaction in Deprived Neighbourhoods in Great Britain.” The third place is an important

location that follows the first place (home) and the second place (workplace). It is a key location

for social interaction- making them necessary for inhabitants of any town. Through studies in

underprivileged neighborhoods in Britain, this fact becomes very evident (Hickman).

Downtown Dallas is by no means deprived, but the observations seen by Hickman can be

applied here. The town has multiple places / areas (the coffee shop being a prime example) that

could be perfect third places. Even at midnight, I have seen people walking about, enjoying the

peace and near-quiet of nighttime. I, myself, come here sometimes- mostly with friends or my

girlfriend- to park, talk, and relax in this friendly, familiar face. Although these places seem to

hold no importance to others outside of the community, they are clearly special to the people of

Dallas. The idea of a third place is one that clearly describes the relationship between Downtown

Dallas and its community. Even in bad weather, the warmth of the town and places like the

coffee shop attract its people, something I find truly special.

The Cold Outdoors

I exit the coffee shop and immediately enter a different kind of environment. I went from

the warm and comfortable sound of conversation to the now cold and not-so-comforting sound of

cars zooming around. Going to, what I imagine is, the center of town- Town Square- sounds

important to my understanding of Downtown Dallas. So, I head that way. It is not entirely lonely

walking there; I have the wind pushing me around every which way as if it is a rude pedestrian.

I make it to Town Square and see exactly what I expect- nothing. The big fountain gushes

water alone, with nobody to feed it coins. At the center of Town Square stands a Valentine’s Day
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display, much like the coffee shop but on a much more magnificent scale. Unfortunately, nobody

is around to marvel at its beauty. The benches are only occupied by the cold. I take a seat on one

of the benches next to it. A frigid breeze blows my way, trying to strike up a conversation.

“Why today of all days?” I question the cold sarcastically.

In response, I get a chill sent up my spine, as if it is taunting me.

“You know, you’re making my life very difficult right now,” I respond while taking my

observation notes- struggling to keep steady, of course.

Again, a breeze blows by, followed by the sound of multiple cars moving down Main

Street in front of me. I like being alone at places, which makes the presence of this cold very

irritating.

I choose to distract myself by looking around Town Square. “What a pretty Valentine’s

Day decoration,” I say, staring at the pink and white chariot-looking object, decorated with

flowers and other items centered around love. “It’s about 9:35,” this time looking up at the tall

clock tower that is high above me to my left. I would say it is the most iconic feature of this

town.

The current setting of Downtown Dallas is saddening to me. I look down the road towards

a parking lot across the intersection. I remember the fun and connection I had with the town as a

child through the farmer’s market held in that parking lot every Saturday. My parents would take

me there almost every weekend. We would walk around the lot, checking every stand the

community had to offer. Our favorite was a stand owned by two bakers (who now have a store in

Dallas!). We took full advantage of that opportunity, grabbing any kind of delicious sweet we

desired. Unfortunately, it is a bit out of season for the market now, but the memories never go

out-of-date.
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Another breeze goes by, this time powerful enough to freeze my thoughts. I think that

means it is time to go.

Thoughts and Conclusion

I begin the five minute walk back to the warmth of my car. I think about my experiences

on the walk back. On the side of the road, perching in the planter boxes just like a plant, stands

cut-out hearts with Valentine’s Day themed messages on them. As simplistic as it is, it tells me

that I have been missing the obvious this morning: the town may be fairly barren right now, but

the love and care of its locals are seen all year round. The town is always decorated for the

holidays, even if it is just for something as small as Valentine’s Day- and even if it is freezing

cold. Compared to bigger towns and cities, such as Hiram nearby, Downtown Dallas is very

clean and taken care of. And despite the fact they only stay indoors, people still start their

mornings here. Downtown Dallas is obviously very taken care of and important to its

community- something I cannot say for other places around it.

A recent article by The City Menus discusses a fairly new tradition for Downtown

Dallas, being the second annual Downtown First Awards. The event’s purpose is to celebrate the

community members of the town who help to shape it into what it is (Press Release). With this, it

becomes evident that the operation of this town requires the care of its ordinary citizens and

business owners. And it makes sense; the love seen in Downtown Dallas is no one-man job. This

town has a special relationship with its inhabitants- giving to each other back and forth. Business

owners have a lot to thank Downtown Dallas for as their livelihoods come from here. So does the

town itself for all the effort and love put into it by said businesses.
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I make it back into my car after it has been waiting patiently for over an hour. I

immediately turn on the heat to defrost myself. My time spent today gives me a greater

understanding and respect for this little downtown area so close to me. Whenever I think about

small towns, I imagine an old, broken-down or impoverished place with little care put into it. But

Downtown Dallas defies that expectation. When I look back into my childhood, I see that I have

this town to thank for a lot of it. This town is so important to the many people here, and if it were

to vanish, life for them would not be the same. The energy may be missing right now, but I know

for certain that the town and its residents are excited for the happier (and hotter) months ahead.

Downtown Dallas may have been extremely cold today, but warmth could be felt in many

other ways.
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Works Cited

Barker, John. “Georgia Highlands College To Expand In Paulding.” Patch, 9 July 2018,

https://patch.com/georgia/dallas-hiram/georgia-highlands-college-expand-paulding.

Accessed 23 March 2024.

Hickman, Paul. “‘Third Places’ and Social Interaction in Deprived Neighbourhoods in Great

Britain.” Journal of Housing and the Built Environment, vol. 28, no. 2, 2013, pp. 221–36.

JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/42636241. Accessed 24 March 2024.

Morris, Brayden. Place Observation of Downtown Dallas, Dallas, GA 30157. 17 February 2024.

Press Release. “Downtown Dallas Hosts 2nd Annual Downtown First Awards.” The City Menus,

25 January 2024,

https://thecitymenus.com/2024/01/25/downtown-dallas-hosts-2nd-annual-downtown-first

-awards/. Accessed 23 March 2024.

Rath, Jan, and Wietze Gelmers. “Trendy Coffee Shops and Urban Sociability.” Urban Europe,

edited by Virginie Mamadouh and Anne van Wageningen, Amsterdam University Press,

2016, pp. 123–30. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctvcszzrh.18. Accessed 24 March

2024.