Several Dallas small businesses are looking for new homes after they say the city recently enforced an ordinance that had been on the books for years.
Tucked away inside old homes on Herschel Avenue were a variety of small businesses – salons, spas and massage parlors.
EJ Ybarbo co-owns Hair Revival Studio, which had called an old home their home for the last two years.
But, Ybarbo said, the area is zoned commercial-residential and recently, the city came by to enforce.
“You had to have residence in your place of business and no one lived in any of those businesses,” Ybarbo said, which meant they had to move – or spend thousands of dollars trying to renovate.
Ybarbo and his staff were lucky though, and for that, he is thankful on this Thanksgiving.
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Just days before the city came by and put them on notice, Ybarbo had opened a second salon location nearby.
So instead of operating two salons as they had planned, they simply brought the two together in the new location on Monitor Street.
“Thank God we had somewhere to bring everyone, otherwise we’d be out on the street,” Ybarbo said.
While it is unclear what the plans are for the future of the quiet street, neighbors who live there sense change is coming.
And it may not be welcome.
Rebecca Young has lived there for about four years and believes the neighborhood is dense enough.
“If they come down, I would hope they become duplexes or side-by-sides and have some lawn around them. Not high rises,” Young said, looking at a high-rise apartment building that longtime residents fought against years ago.
“We know our neighbors, which I think is unusual. At least to speak to, if not by name. We know everybody’s dogs name,” Young said, laughing.
