The Lakewood Shopping Center as it appeared in 1974. (Photo courtesy of the Dallas Municipal Archives)

The Lakewood Shopping Center as it appeared in 1974. (Photo courtesy of the Dallas Municipal Archives)

While some things change, others stay the same. In 1974, the corner of Abrams and Gaston was home to Harrell’s drug store, Centennial Liquor, a piano store and tax services. Apparently, there were only three colors of car: light, dark and in-between. Today, Abrams has been rerouted around Lakewood Shopping Center, creating Harrell Park, but the Faulkner building still looms above what used to be a 7-Eleven near Paulus and Gaston. The pull-in parking remains, daring drivers to back into oncoming traffic on the busy strip. Craft beer, sushi, remodelers and dentists line the same strip these days, reflecting the gentrification in East Dallas.

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The Lakewood Shopping Center as it appears in 2017. (Photo by Danny Fulgencio)