"Saving" Fry St...02:57 Oct 19 2017
Times Read: 145
I am reflecting on the years spent every night on Fry St., here in Denton, TX. It's the corner of the University of North Texas. Bars, Pizza, Hookahs and many memories. Especially from 2005-2007 before the Fire that burned The Flying Tomato when corporation was coming into kill the long lived local scene. CVS, chain places, you get the picture. The Flying Tomato was the heart of Old Fry St. The half of Fry St. they wanted to demolish was burned down by homeless punker kids. It wasn't funny. People could have dies in nearby bars. Thankfully, they didn't....just explosions, a burning car, and phone lines set on fire. It was the end of an era for Old Fry St, and some ways, even Denton. What happened the following days, however, was the pull out of these Anti-Denton corporations. The local chains ran out simply went to nearby places and continued local business which thrives today. The good places survived. There was a campaign to "Save" Fry St., and "Keep Denton weird"....similar to the Austin slogan. It was the same words used by ministers. Ultimately, that side of Fry St. was replaced by an Apt. complex with decent restaurants and a bar which are still trying to find their footing which Old Fry St. had for many years. The Delta Lodge, which was the party house of Fry St. became the Christian Campus Center. No major theme parties, but free food, and friends on a weekly basis. Fry St. being "saved" was a work from above...and the life of the place was preserved with a newer face sharing the older face. It could have been a lot worse. That side of Fry St. wasn't going to last forever, anyway. That fire, in a bitter sweet way, "saved" Fry St. as a major center for Community, while at the same time, burning up the "good ole days" with the memorable outing it deserved.....rather than being pushed out and replaced by the corporate "normal."
COMMENTS
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Minde
12:13 Oct 19 2017
That sucks
FlawlessForce
07:45 Oct 20 2017
It does, but it could have been a lot worse...