La La Land Kind Cafe:
When La La Land Kind Cafe opened in 2019, no one could have predicted how big the business would become.
Founded by Francois Reihani, the cafe chain employs foster youth who are aging out of the system. Through the La La Program, the cafe connects foster youth to mentors, trains them in service positions and connects them to resources.
By focusing on creating a kind environment for all, the cafe has harnessed the power of the internet and become a viral sensation. Through its Instagrammable locations, drinks and Drive-by Kindness videos, the brand’s platforms have grown exponentially. Today La La Land has over 6.5 million followers on TikTok and another 240,000 on Instagram.
As its popularity has grown, the cafe has expanded from its original Lowest Greenville location to 10 additional storefronts throughout Texas and California. Each new shop opening creates more opportunities for Reihani and his company to employ and assist foster youth. The company recently secured a $20 million investment and plans to continue expanding throughout the country.
John Spyropoulos takes an order from a customer at John’s Cafe in Dallas, Texas on Friday, July 8, 2022. Photography by Emil Lippe.
John’s Cafe:
Open only for breakfast and lunch, John’s Cafe has been in business for more than 50 years.
John Spyropoulos moved to the United States in 1970, when he was 21, and opened his restaurant two years later. The location of his cafe has changed a few times over the years, but his diner-style food has remained a neighborhood favorite.
“I grew up down here, going to the grocers, like John’s Cafe. That was my dad’s old buddy. … these old business owners from when I was a little girl,” East Dallas resident Zahra Darwish says.
When Spyropoulos moved into his current location on Greenville Avenue, customers told him not to renovate the space and to “leave it like the old place.”
And leave it he did. The retro diner holds memories of decades past with photos and news clippings on the walls, making it the perfect place for a casual breakfast on Saturday morning. He’ll even make Mickey-shaped pancakes for the kids.
So what has kept John’s on the radar for 50 years?
“Good food and good service. It’s smart. And it shows in the customers every day,” Spyropoulos says.
Dixie House:
Although no longer in business, Dixie House was an icon of Lakewood while its doors were open at 6400 Gaston Ave.
Owner Gene Street and his partner, Phil Cobb, opened the spot when Street’s other restaurant chain, the Black-eyed Pea, was discouraged from opening in Lakewood.
“Nearly every one of them said, ‘I don’t think you should bring a chain restaurant into Lakewood. It’s never worked here,’” Street says.
So he didn’t. Instead he opened Dixie House, and the place was a smashing hit.
With its church-pew booth seating and beloved dinner rolls, Street says the restaurant “dwarfed the Black-eyed Peas.”
For a neighborhood that barred the doors to Street at first, it certainly has not let him go. Street has owned and been a partner with other businesses in the area, including Liberty Burger and Lakewood Yacht Club.
“Nothing but fond memories. It was just a great community,” Street says. “Lakewood was very, very good to me.”
The restaurant was open for over 35 years before it closed in January 2016. Its parent company, Restaurants Acquisition I, Llc., declared bankruptcy in December 2015. Dixie House had also been having issues with Lincoln Property Company, the landlord of Lakewood Shopping Center at the time.
Snuffer’s Restaurant and Bar:
Snuffer’s opened its first location on Lower Greenville in 1978. Through its history of ghost sightings and famous cheddar fries, the casual dining spot has become a neighborhood staple.
“So, being a Texas native, and a Dallas native specifically, I love all my Dallas restaurants. But one of my go-tos is Mi Cocina … and then also Snuffer’s for their cheese fries and ranch,” local resident Christa Sanford says.
With nine locations throughout North Texas, Snuffer’s fans can get a taste of East Dallas success no matter where they are in the Metroplex.
Matt’s Rancho Martinez:
Matt’s was a neighborhood favorite until it closed earlier this year.
The Tex-Mex joint opened its doors to Lakewood in 1989 and moved locations a few times before settling at Skillman and La Vista.
With a family history rich in food experience, Matt’s served some of the most iconic Tex-Mex dishes in the neighborhood. Dishes such as fajitas, Matt’s Famous Chile Relleno and Tampiqueno Style Chicken Fried Steak satisfied the stomachs of residents and visitors alike.
After 35 years of service, our local Matt’s closed its doors as the business moved its focus to Allen, where the restaurant owns a space twice as large as the former location.
The exit of Matt’s certainly left our hearts heavy, but we can rest easy knowing that Matt Martinez Sr., Matt Martinez Jr. and Estella Martinez have all been inducted into the Texas Restaurant Association’s Hall of Honor.
