If you ask people from out of town what comes to mind when they think of Dallas, Texas, you might hear some people say something about cowboys, football or the iconic ’80s television show. What many of us in Dallas know, and we at the DEC know, is that Dallas is considered one of the best places in the country to work and is home to a variety of cultural and entertainment districts.
Downtown Dallas boasts more than 135,000 employees, more than 315 restaurants and bars and more than 170 shops. Numerous CEOs, developers and entrepreneurs are making Downtown Dallas home base because of its access to retail, favorable business climate and close proximity to co-working spaces and accelerators.
The DEC is sandwiched between a bus stop and the West End DART station, and our members typically walk or take public transportation to get from place to place. Dallas has even been called one of the “most walkable urban cities” in the country (really!). And with the longest light rail system in the U.S., combined with the expansion of the trolley line due to be completed soon, we have no problem getting around downtown without ever getting in a car. Though we could if we wanted to—ZipCar just moved in to The DEC, and one of their vehicles is parked at Ross and Record streets.
The city’s growth isn’t just restricted to transportation. Community events continue to draw crowds, attracting more than 200 people to Dallas New Tech, the Kinect Hackathon and the North Texas Apps Challenge. Our 1Million Cups gatherings are bigger than ever, with more than 50 people attending Wednesday mornings at 9AM. And this month’s Angel Summit offers an ideal opportunity for visitors to witness the city’s level of activity firsthand.
But downtown offers more than a standout professional community and ample networking opportunities. We eat and drink here, too! A few of our favorite restaurants include Ellen’s Southern Kitchen, CBD Provisions located inside The Joule and most anything in the 3 miles of underground tunnels in downtown. If it’s a good cup of coffee we’re after, we head to Urban Blend, Stupid Good Coffee, Weekend Coffee or Café Solis. After hours, when we’re not taking advantage of the beer on tap at the DEC, we’re hitting up the NYLO, Midnight Rambler or the classic Palm Restaurant.
Downtown offers a little bit of something for everyone, making it a premier place for employees, CEOs and entrepreneurs to work (and play). The Dallas Entrepreneur Center (DEC) is committed to fostering growth and driving the local economy, which is why we offer memberships that fit your business, needs and budget. If you want to join the growing population of employees and business owners in downtown, sign up for a co-working membership at the DEC. Our members have access to dedicated mentors, classes, DEC-coordinated events, desk and office space and much more.
If you’re interested in joining the DEC community, feel free to email our Community Manager, Will Akins, at will@thedec.co or apply for membership by clicking here.
The post The advantages of working in Downtown Dallas appeared first on The Dallas Entrepreneur Center.