Expo Park, Circa 1946: Dry Goods, Rooms to Let, Sheet Metal, and Head-In Parking
by Paula Bosse
800 block of Exposition…
by Paula Bosse
Next time you stop by the Amsterdam Bar at 831 Exposition Avenue, whip out your phone and show this photo to your drinking buddies — this is what the street looked like two doors down, just after World War II. The two-story building at 827 Exposition was home to Lief Dry Goods and the Lief Hotel, and the single-story 825 Exposition was divided into McNeill’s Tin Shop and the Fair Way Cleaners & Laundry (it currently houses the Ochre House theater space). Today the neighborhood has lost much of its grittiness (and head-in parking), but the buildings are still recognizable almost 70 years later. Below, present-day 827 and 825 Exposition Avenue.
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Sources & Notes
Top photo from Jim Wheat’s Dallas County Texas Archives.
Bottom two images from Google Street View.
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Copyright © 2014 Paula Bosse. All Rights Reserved.
Flashback : Dallas 
I’m doing my best to keep this place reasonably preserved and still intact. It’s a labor of love for sure. Due to the existing state of it when I bought it in 1999, it was impossible to get historical designation. It’s is now fully modern code compliant and houses art studios, a community coworking Space and lawyer’s from the State Department are moving upstairs in 2018!
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Great work!
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823 and 821 Exposition are still owned by the
McNeill family. Rex A. McNeill opened McNeill
Sheet Metal in 1929. My Father
Bob McNeill purchased the current property in the early sixties.
When Bob passed away in 2008 his children Lana and
RandyMcNeill now own the property.
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Very cool!
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My Grandparents owned the Lief Drygoods Store and Hotel at 827 Exposition from the early 1900’s. My dad grew up in the upstairs area. My sister and I were there today and were surprised at the condition of the building. We visited two shop owners down the street who told us they’re worried about what may happen to the historic buildings. We told them we’d like to do whatever we can to help save the area. My question to you is “who would you suggest we contact to help save the area”.
Thank you in advance.
Joe Lief
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Hi, Joe. There might be some sort of Exposition Park neighborhood group that could be helpful. I would suggest contacting the City of Dallas Office of Historic Preservation and see what they advise.
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Paula,
Thank you for the information.
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