The Buddy Holly Center and the Depot Entertainment District in Lubbock, Texas
Photographer & Drone Pilot: Jimmy Dunn
Lubbock has no majestic mountains, no pine forests, no sandy white beaches, or majestic rivers. Therefore, we’ve always had to entertain ourselves with high school football and other sports, particularly great comfort food and outstanding music, as well as homegrown art. The Depot District is all about art, food, and music. Buddy Holly, John Denver, Mac Davis, Waylon Jennings (Littlefield) & Joe Ely are but a few of the many talented musicians who have called Lubbock home, and that tradition continues. In October 2014, Paul McCarney even played a concert at the Buddy Holly Center, during which he recounted Holly's musical influence on the Beatles.
The Depot District encompasses an area bordered by 19th Street on the southern side, 15th street on the northern side, Texas Avenue on the western side, and Interstate 27 on the eastern side.
The District in Lubbock, Texas, derives its name from the Burlington Railroad Depot at 19th Street and Ave G. It was built in 1928 but later fell into disrepair serving as a salvage yard and a brickyard. However, by 1973, restoration work began using the original plans and by 1976 it became an upscale restaurant called the Depot Bar and Restaurant. Regrettably, that restaurant closed its doors in 1996. However, it was the owner of that establishment, Ronnie Tompson, who coined the name Depot District in about 1994, exploring a vision of the district as a small town surrounding the old building.
Today, the building has been expanded and is now called the Buddy Holly Center. The center has exhibitions and programs that reflect the region and that encourage artistic expression. One of its missions is collecting and preserving historical artifacts relevant to Buddy Holly, a legendary Lubbock musician adored the world over. The center also collects and preserves some artifacts of other local artists.
The center is also a leg of the Lubbock Friday Art Trail, a self-guided public art happening held predominantly in the Lubbock Cultural District. It lasts from 6 to 9 every first Friday of the month.
Also, in the Meadows Courtyard of the center, free performances are held every Thursday evening from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., from May 19 – August 18. These events feature prominent Lubbock Musicians.
Just across Ave G from the center is the West Texas Walk of fame, which pays tribute to outstanding residents of the Lubbock area. The site also includes a large Buddy Holly statue created by Grant Speed.
If two buildings anchor the Depot District, they would be the Buddy Holly Center and the Cactus Theater, The Cactus Theater was built in 1938 and continued to show first and second run movies until the end of 1958. Thereafter, it sat in ruin until 1993 when investors with a vision reopened this site as a live entertainment venue.
Today it offers mostly musical performances but has also provided various stage shows and plays.
There are five restaurants in the district at this time, though we understand that more may be in the works. They offer Americana, Mexican, Spanish, Barbeque and Mediterranean food. Specifically, La Diosa also has vegetarian, vegan and gluten free dishes. The five restaurants consist of:
Triple J Chophouse & Brew Co. 1807 Buddy Holly Ave, Lubbock, Tx (806) 771-6555
Cast Iron Grill 620 19th St. Lubbock, TX (806) 771-7690
Big E's Barbeque 1802 Buddy Holly Ave., Lubbock, TX (806) 441-6703
La Diosa Cellars 901 17th St., Lubbock, Tx (806) (806) 744-3600
Cha Cha 1823 Buddy Holly Avenue. Lubbock, Tx (806) 993-5143
There are also ten bars, some of which also serve some food. The bars on Buddy Holly Avenue tend towards but are not limited to more mature adults. They consist of:
The Blue Light 1806 Buddy Holly Ave., Lubbock, Tx (806) 7623-1185
Last Call 1720 Buddy Holly Ave., Lubbock, Tx (806) 749-7766
Tom’s Daiquiris 1808 Buddy Holly Ave., Lubbock, Tx (806) 749-5442
Rewind Bar 1802 Buddy Holly Ave., Lubbock, Tx (806) 786-2890
The Garden 1801 Buddy Holly Ave., Lubbock, Tx (806) 407-3636
Though you will find younger adults in these bars, many of them have a good mix including older adults. And while they are restaurants, Triple J’s bar is also very popular among mature adults, and of course La Diosa Cellars has a wine bar with an international selection of wines.
In the next block west between 17th Street and 18th Street, the bars are a bit louder and appeal to younger adults. They consist of:
Rehab Bar 1717 Texas Ave., Lubbock, Tx (575) 760-5466
Kongs 1707 Texas Ave., Lubbock, TX (806) 687-5664
The Library Bar 1701 Texas Ave., Lubbock, Tx (806) 747-6000
Black Sheep 1711 Texas Ave., Lubbock, Tx (806) 368-8282
Li t 703 Texas Ave., Lubbock, Tx (806) 701-3333
One of the newcomers to the district, though they’ve now been here for a while, is McPherson Cellars which is an actual wine brewery but much more. Like La Diosa, their wine tasting room is very relaxed and the employees extremely friendly. They also have an event center with a fountain partially made from antique coke bottles leftover from the days when the building was a bottling company.
Of particular interest these days is the second block off of 19th street in the Depot District, between 18th and 17th street. Though the Last Call bar is here, most of the businesses in this block are upscale retail establishments. These include:
The Workshop 1716 Buddy Holly Ave., Lubbock, Tx (806) 891-2745 (Artistic Supplies)
Lubbock Fancy Flea & Company 1706 Buddy Holly Ave., Lubbock, Tx (806) 891-4141 (Antiques)
Two Thirty Five Designs 1702 Buddy Holly Ave., Lubbock, Tx (806) 928-9342 (Home Interior +)
Jux Ta Posh 1701 Buddy Holly Ave., Lubbock, Tx (806) 407-4122 (Home Interior +)
What’s so interesting about this block is that it will probably see the most development over the coming year. Much work is being done to create a cultural center here. As you drive by Jux Ta Posh, keep your eye on the courtyard next door, as I understand that it will be transformed into a really magical place with perhaps some other establishments occupying the area. Next door to the south, I think we may see a restaurant or other establishment coming in.
There are a number of special events that take place in the Depot District, such as the First Friday art Trail and the Summer Concert Series mentioned above. Another fun event is the Lubbock Farmer’s Market every Saturday Morning during the Summer. In 2022, it opened beginning May 28th and will continue through October 15th, from 9:00 am until 1:00 pm. It’s a great place to take a friendly dog too.
The Depot District is very special to me. It may not be as grand as the River Walk in San Antonio, or 6th Street in Austin, but there is an artistic and musical flavor about it that comfort’s my soul. It’s Old Town Lubbock, celebrating everything that is Lubbock, fine food, great music and cultural experience. It’s true that they have to work hard to compete with the huge number of restaurants and bars in Lubbock, but it’s only a short drive away from just about everywhere in Lubbock, and we owe it to ourselves to support the district.
Also, if one is coming into town, while there are no hotels located in the Depot District, some of Lubbock’s best accommodations are a short distance away.