Sunday, June 22, 2008

People you s“hood” know: Bishop Arts District’s Rob Shearer

By Scott Guthrie

OAK CLIFF — Just as Danny Ocean is unofficially mayor of Las Vegas and nobody questions Mr. Rogers runs his neighborhood, Rob Shearer is quickly becoming the go-to-guy in Oak Cliff.

Shearer, 34, has only lived in Oak Cliff for five years but has already constructed an impressive resume. He serves as Vice Chair and is on the Board of Directors on the Oak Cliff Chamber of Commerce, is a board member on the Oak Cliff Transit Authority and Oak Cliff Foundation, and is President of the Bishop Arts Merchant Association.

Not to mention he is also president of Fusion Advertising and is one of the publishers for Cliff Dweller, a magazine aimed toward keeping the citizens of Oak Cliff informed on their 'hood.

http://www.peoplenewspapers.com

Rob Shearer is proud to call Oak Cliff home.

He has accumulated none of these titles with himself in mind though.

“People who care about the community want to make a difference,” Shearer said.

And Shearer is truly passionate about Oak Cliff, something he can’t say for other communities where he has lived.

Before moving to Oak Cliff, Shearer lived on lower Greenville near the Mexican restaurant Blue Goose.

“Short of St. Patrick’s Day there weren’t people out on their front porches. I didn’t find a community.”

So Shearer started looking to relocate. He got in his car and started driving around and came across Kessler Park, the Bishop Arts District and the Oak Cliff Mercantile. After driving through these areas of Oak Cliff, Shearer knew he had found his new home.

“There is a real sense of community. It’s the sense of a small town in a big city,” Shearer said. “Oak Cliff pride — you can see it and feel it.”

Shearer immediately joined the Oak Cliff Chamber and made attempts to meet people in his new neighborhood. He admits he was “intentional” about it and started inviting people he didn’t know to lunch.

Five years later most people in the Oak Cliff community know Shearer, and his passion for the area keeps growing.

“There is a totally different vibe. It feels organic. West Village is fabricated. This area wasn’t just built. We have some history and shops and restaurants that are unique and not chains,” said Shearer.

And Shearer knows where all these unique restaurants are and even has some favorites.

If its Mexican food he is looking for he heads to El Jordan, which he claims has the “best cheese enchiladas in Dallas.”

There are plenty off places to grab drinks after work but Shearer prefers Kavala and Tillman’s Roadhouse. And if it is a client he is trying to impress he takes him to the Belmont Hotel, which Shearer swears has “the best views of downtown Dallas.”

If Oak Cliff were just for the older crowd, Shearer wouldn’t be there. The area also offers plenty for his three-year-old daughter.

“It’s very kid friendly. There’s lots of parents with school-aged kids and the area is growing quickly,” Shearer admits.

Some of those kid-friendly places include Hunky’s, which is known for its grilled cheese and Vitto, which is known for its pizza.

He cares more though about his daughter’s education than what she eats. As a concerned parent, Shearer suggests the DISD's reputation may be unfair.

“Some people feel DISD doesn’t have a lot to offer. A group of [area] parents has learned to work with the district though to make sure kids get a good education,” Shearer said.

Although Shearer has loved his time thus far in Oak Cliff, he can’t wait for the future — as Oak Cliff is continuing to grow and improve. Currently Oak Cliff is working on acquiring a streetcar system much like the one in Uptown to run along Davis Street. Shearer also chairs the Oak Cliff Chamber's Quality of Life committee, which is working to make Oak Cliff the greenest area in America.

Shearer is positive the changes over the next five to 10 years will be huge.

“Five years ago I would have told someone to move to lower Greenville or Uptown because of the nightlife and bars. We have that now though, and we are so close to downtown and so accessible,” Shearer said.

No matter what age you are, Shearer says Oak Cliff has something to offer everyone.

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