If you’ve ever searched for a liquor store in Oak Cliff, you’ve probably come up dry.
Despite being part of the city of Dallas, Oak Cliff stands out for what it doesn’t have: stores selling liquor — distilled spirits — to take home.
The reason isn’t a lack of demand, but a unique mix of local laws, historical votes and zoning rules that continue to shape how alcohol is sold in this neighborhood.
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Local control over alcohol sales
In Texas, the rules about selling alcohol have been decided locally, since Prohibition was repealed in 1933.
This system, known as the “local option,” allows each city, county, or neighborhood to vote on the types of alcohol sales permitted. The choices are “wet” — all alcoholic sales allowed — “dry” — no alcoholic sales permitted — or “moist” — limited alcoholic sales allowed, usually in restaurants only, according to the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission.
Oak Cliff was once a separate settlement and was incorporated in 1890, according to the Texas State Historical Association.
When Oak Cliff was annexed to Dallas in 1903, a ban on alcohol sales was included as a condition of the annexation, according to the Texas State Historical Association.
Later, factors such as the introduction of liquor sales, new zoning laws, and the growth of car culture began to transform the neighborhood.
In 1944, Dallas County voted to permit alcohol sales, which sparked opposition in Oak Cliff. This eventually led residents to hold a vote in 1956 to make Oak Cliff a “dry” area, according to Dallas County.
Years later, in 2005, regulations permitted the sale of alcohol in restaurants with specific licenses, but retail alcohol sales in stores remained prohibited under the Texas Election Code.
In 2010, the Dallas wet-dry election had a significant impact on Oak Cliff.
The election results meant that previously dry areas of Oak Cliff could now have retail beer and wine sales, as well as eliminate the “private club” requirement for restaurants serving mixed drinks, The News reported.
The ability to sell beer and wine was a significant factor for grocery stores and other retailers considering opening in Oak Cliff. More over, about 2,000 restaurants that had been operating under the club-card requirement could then apply for permits to sell beer, wine and mixed drinks, according to the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission.
Areas like Bishop Arts and West Davis in Oak Cliff became a destination for people from across the city, especially on weekends.
Zoning and ‘dry overlays’
Another result of the 2010 election was that some parts of Oak Cliff have additional restrictions, known as “dry overlays.”
This means alcohol sales are not allowed at all in these areas, often because they are close to schools, churches or hospitals, The News reported. These overlays add another layer of regulation and help explain why alcohol sales are still limited in certain spots. People who want to buy spirits to take home must travel to other parts of Dallas where retail sales are allowed.
Oak Cliff today
Alcohol sales are now permitted, as the area has been designated “wet” following the 2019 elections. However, a liquor store must be located outside the restricted zones surrounding schools and churches, according to the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission.
In 2021, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law a bill that allows restaurants to sell alcohol to-go with food orders. The practice was first allowed during the coronavirus pandemic to help struggling restaurants.
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