Dallas Plumbing Company celebrates its 108th anniversary in our neighborhood this year. Spokesman Jack Andrews says the company has been in business since 1903 and is quite possibly Dallas’ largest plumbing company. One of the common misconceptions about the company is that it provides only plumbing services. However, Andrews says, “we do it all.” Over the years, the owner has considered revamping the name to accommodate to the changes in technology and the style of living, Andrews says, “but it was such a solid name with a solid reputation that it was decided to simply add a tag line that said ‘Air conditioning and plumbing specialist since 1903’, so that is under every presentation of the logo,” Andrews says. The company also houses a showroom focusing on bathrooms and kitchens. “It’s a place where people can go to get expert advice on faucets, fixtures, tubs and sinks for kitchens and baths.” Andrews says, Dallas Plumbing Company has two websites, one for its services, dallasplumbing.com, and one for the showroom, kitchenandbaths.dallas.com. 214.340.6300, 11055 Plano Road.
Keep an eye out for CrossFit Kids to become affiliated with CrossFit Lake Highlands in the near future. No official date has been set, but Chris Schmiedeke, one of the gym’s owners, will be teaching the program to children ages 4-18. The children’s program will be similar to the adult program but with more games and kid-friendly fun than the adult workouts. For updates, check out the gym’s website. 214.949.9348, crossfitlakehighlands.com, 9660 Audelia.
Crossroads Diner recently opened its doors on Walnut Hill and Central. The restaurant is a fusion of comfort-meets-diner food and was inspired by the co-owners’ mothers’ cooking. The duo, chefs Tom Fleming and Carl Strelecki, have worked together in Dallas during the past 10 years in restaurants such as Central 214 at Hotel Palomar and Lombardi Mare. Among the most notable dishes on the menu are cinnamon sticky buns and a unique spin on mac and cheese — with a garlic cream sauce, caramelized onions and smoked ham. 214.346.3491, crossroads-diner.com, 8121 Walnut Hill.
For those who treasure the Green Spot, it now has an espresso bar open seven days a week from 7-11 a.m. — with extended hours coming soon — and it’s serving grass-fed hamburgers, and regular or sweet potato fries. 214.319.7768, greenspot.com, 702 N. Buckner.
The LHHS Wranglers recently traveled to London, England, to perform in the 25th Anniversary of the New Year’s Day Parade. While there, team members posed for a photo with their Vera Bradley tote bags. Cheryl Calvin, owner of The Store in Lake Highlands, posted the photo on The Store’s Facebook page and encouraged the women in the photo to tag themselves and come in for a free gift in appreciation of the team carrying one of The Store’s major lines. 214.553.8850, facebook.com/thestoreinlh, 10233 E. Northwest Highway.
Dallas-based company Half Price Books recently unveiled its first online bookstore, hpbmarketplace.com. The website’s concept is similar to other online bookstores such as Amazon, in that both the company and independent sellers hawk their items. “We’ve always wanted to be online, but it’s been difficult with the nature of our business,” says store spokeswoman Emily Bruce. “With buying books and other items from the public, it’s hard to keep track of everything.” The website offers customers 120 million books, the majority from independent sellers, Bruce says. The website does not offer the same half-price deals available in the store because prices of online items vary based on sellers’ listings. However, Bruce says, “you can certainly find some good deals on there; I’ve already ordered a couple of things myself.” 214.379.8000, hpb.com, 5308 E. Northwest Highway.
