How Love for Community Created Something Magical in Oak Cliff!

In this conversation with Antonio Lucero, I got a front-row seat to what real community work looks like.

Not charity. Not clout. Just someone showing up, again and again, for the place they call home. Antonio isn’t chasing trends. He’s building culture. One restaurant, one mural, one street at a time.

If you think local business is just about profit, this episode will check you hard. Because what Antonio is building in Oak Cliff? 

That’s not just a brand. That’s legacy.

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Antonio Lucero's Business Links 
YuYu Website: https://yuyuculturalshop.com/
YuYu Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100058891156588
Coco's Fire & Ice: https://www.instagram.com/cocosbishoparts/?hl=en
Ocho Restaurant: https://www.facebook.com/Ocholatincuisine

Transcript

00:00:00:02 - 00:00:25:02
Unknown
Welcome everyone to the local business legends on TV, the marketer and this is Antonio Lucero with us. Okocha and Coco's very nice. Needless to say, he's a serial entrepreneur right now. We're in Bishop Arch Jefferson, part of town in Oak Cliff. He has, which one is the one on in on Bishop. Coco's famous Coco's fire and ice.

00:00:25:02 - 00:00:48:21
Unknown
And this is you use in back and behind, this building, we have Ocho. Ocho. When I first met this young man, he must have been, just young and didn't have any gray hair. I didn't have any gray. We met dancing, a little. Did I know that? What, ten, 15 years later, we'd be bumping into each other in another capacity, which is business.

00:00:48:23 - 00:01:06:02
Unknown
Before I get started, just give us a quick introduction as to who you are and how you know. No, not how you got here. Just who you are for now. Sure. First, thank you. My name is Antonio Lucero. I am a business owner of a few businesses. The ones that are here in the heart of Oak Cliff.

00:01:06:02 - 00:01:32:00
Unknown
Are you? You cultural shop? Would you say artisan gift shop or Chia Restaurant, which is a Latin cuisine focused restaurant. And then Coco's very nice, which is located in Bishop Arts and it focuses on Mexican cuisine. We are in the hospitality and, retail business, and we've been at it for close to 18 years now. Wow. So you were at it even before?

00:01:32:02 - 00:01:57:23
Unknown
Before I met you? Yeah. But were you in the corporate space before that? Also, because I know that we bumped into because of another thing that you were doing, you were helping with another dancer help him tour. And we we worked a little bit together then. Yeah. I think like many of us back in the days, I had my shot in the corporate space, with companies like target, which is one of the big retailers around here.

00:01:58:01 - 00:02:27:07
Unknown
I had a stint at Wells Fargo, Moneygram, and eventually I parted ways and decided to go on my own and started my on entrepreneurship. Wow. Journey. Okay. We're here because I wanted to talk to someone that's committed to doing work in the community. Bishop Arsho Cliff I was actually I wasn't born in Oak Cliff, but I got here as fast as I could, was born in Mexico, but I was raised in Oak Cliff during the 80s and 90s.

00:02:27:09 - 00:02:44:21
Unknown
Jefferson is was what used to be considered downtown Oak Cliff before it was annexed, and a part of Dallas for those that didn't know, and it's something that I'm very proud of. And the idea of having a conversation with you, who is so committed to actually helping expand the vision and what we're trying to do here in Oak Cliff.

00:02:44:21 - 00:03:06:12
Unknown
It makes me happy to be able to talk to someone, especially a close friend like you. What brought you to Oak Cliff? Because where are you from originally? And so I was born and raised in Puebla in Mexico. What brought me to a cliff? Believe it or not, as I'm thinking about it was actually you. Because when we go.

00:03:06:13 - 00:03:30:00
Unknown
Okay. Yeah, this is new information. Actually, I, when I started to think of Oak Cliff, was because of some of the first conversations that we had have when we first met about your experiences at Fiesta. Yes. Yeah. This is totally random, but but it's actually true because I didn't. I mean, I didn't know Oak Cliff.

00:03:30:01 - 00:03:57:21
Unknown
I'm not from here. So the conversations that brought me to Oak Cliff, some of the first conversations were some of our conversations about Fiesta, and how there was a big, Mexican community back in the days around here. And then also some other folks that talked about, how communities from Veracruz are very prominent around here.

00:03:57:23 - 00:04:27:06
Unknown
And eventually, again, I started driving in this neighborhood which has changed significantly since then. Yeah. So our conversations 15. Yes, years ago maybe or so. But that's really what started bringing me to this neighborhood. And basically started lifting, a curtain. Yes. In front of my eyes about opportunities. And, that's how I ended up here, honestly.

00:04:27:08 - 00:04:52:11
Unknown
But I never not in a while, not in my wildest dreams that I think that once I was going to live here, two, that I was going to start businesses here, and then three that I was going to be basically in the middle of, revolution. Yes. And change also as part of the whole neighborhood and community. I, I never thought of that.

00:04:52:13 - 00:05:17:18
Unknown
Yeah. So the local business legends, I started this idea. It was an idea that started because I wanted to focus on businesses that not only are doing well in terms of transacting and selling good stuff, but also really invested in the community like you are invested in the community and doing and going above and beyond. And after having multiple conversations with you and obviously being in here, I'm like, you're doing it.

00:05:17:20 - 00:05:41:03
Unknown
You're to your point. You you are in multiple businesses and you're really a part, an integral part from what I'm understanding and the conversations that we had in trying to help push and expand what we're doing here in the Bishop Arts Oak Cliff area, changing, I think the, the way it's perceived, it's been it's been changing. I'm from Oak Cliff, from an era that you you you didn't come down here.

00:05:41:05 - 00:06:11:17
Unknown
If you tell people that you were from Oak Cliff, would they say, Oak Cliff, it's a shirt. Yeah, yeah. I mean, the general perception of Oak Cliff, at least since we've been here since I've been here is not necessarily a good one. So, you know, like in the general perception that this is a dangerous neighborhood, a poor neighborhood, a Mexican neighborhood, and basically any connotation that you can think of that is not necessarily a favorable one.

00:06:11:19 - 00:06:50:17
Unknown
However, that being said, in this 7 or 8 years that we've been in the neighborhood, we never but not once did we and I mean, me personally receive myself or our business or our neighbors or the neighborhood in that capacity that makes me happy. And that that to me, it's always been a fascinating conversation to have with people that have been here forever, newcomers and then people that are transitioning, which I call Oak Cliff.

00:06:50:18 - 00:07:22:07
Unknown
Because again, in general, almost every day I have a conversation with people that say, oh, you're not Cliff or I used to live there, but we move because economic conditions, because of danger. Yes. Or a lot of different things. And then now many of them come back and almost everybody gets surprise of what Oak Cliff is today.

00:07:22:07 - 00:07:54:12
Unknown
Yeah. And then they're super surprised that we are here, with you, you as a space for community, for representation connection, for connection, for art, for just many things that people in general don't think about or the they might have thought about it in the past, but not in the capacity that we see. We see it today. And that to me was just again, it's a valuable conversation and it's part of why we are here.

00:07:54:14 - 00:08:15:08
Unknown
We're changing. You're changing the image. You're helping change the image. I, I bumped into somebody the other day at a yoga studio, over on mockingbird, and she recognized me from the dance community, etc., and she's like, oh, your Teevee that da. And, what do you do? What are you dancing now? And I said, I still dance, I don't dance much, I dance Zumba and we'll talk about that here in a second.

00:08:15:10 - 00:08:33:03
Unknown
And there's, there's actually a place down in Oak Cliff and, over on Bishop Park. She's like, oh, Cliff. I'm like, no, it's really great. Yeah. I don't go down there. I'm like, it made me feel a little icky. But she feels what she feels and it's fine, I get it. And despite that, I do feel that overall is changing in a positive way.

00:08:33:05 - 00:08:52:19
Unknown
There's so many opportunities here. I wanted to share about how I even bumped into you again because for context, I first met him years ago. Dancing. Dancing, this, dance style called kizomba. He was one of the first people that I met, and one of the first people that I would try to take guidance from you because you were one of the older people in the room.

00:08:53:01 - 00:09:15:16
Unknown
And to this day, you are one of the one of the oldest, the OGs, in this entire game. So I'm where I'm across the street, a shaman come over here and I'm just walking my little happy butt and, see, this cool joint's colorful, and this Mexicano is really Mexican inspired. Obviously, all the stuff. Oh. So I walk in here, and lo and behold, I see you.

00:09:15:18 - 00:09:33:20
Unknown
The last person in the world I would expect to be. I was blown away. And by the way, shaman across the street is fantastic coffee shop. Love that food. Great menu. So if you're in the area, check them out. And there's a bunch of businesses up and down this joint that we can talk about down the road.

00:09:33:22 - 00:09:59:10
Unknown
But it blew me away to, to to know that you were here. So fast forward, I get a call from a friend who's, wanting to who said that they were talking to this guy named Antonio who's interested in bringing kizomba, in another capacity. Also manage and used to run this, dance community, a kizomba dance community, and I would host events on Mondays.

00:09:59:12 - 00:10:21:21
Unknown
Apparently. Antonio, there was an Antonio that was looking to host events in Oak Cliff. And I said, that's interesting. He told me the name Antonio Lucero. Like, oh my God. And since then we've had conversations, helped, set up the original group that now runs it Monday night, kizomba on third Mondays. If you're interested. And you host it in your space, why is it important to you?

00:10:21:21 - 00:10:40:20
Unknown
And I know the answer, pretty much, but I want to hear, hear you share. Why is it important to bring something like his own, but something that is culturally so diverse and so different from what you would come to expect from an Oak Cliff space? Wow. That's a, you know, it's a long, long, long, answer, but I'll give you the celebration of it.

00:10:40:20 - 00:11:12:15
Unknown
The short version of it is inclusivity, representation, community. I mean, those three things are top of mind, and those are at the heart of why you you exist. You know, we want to use culture to help us tell our stories, to help us connect. Yeah, to help us, start those difficult conversations that often times we don't have for a number of reasons, which is okay, but again, gotta start somewhere.

00:11:12:17 - 00:11:41:16
Unknown
Yeah, yeah, we hope to, to ignite those conversations even if, if they are difficult to have. So that's that's why we decided to host them. And then of course, I mean, I love dancing. I've always I tell my wife often, I don't think I have a lot of, passions, but one of my biggest passions is dancing. And when I had the opportunity to bring all of the things that I'm passionate about.

00:11:41:16 - 00:12:09:21
Unknown
Wow. Yeah. There. Yeah, it was like, oh my God, this is a no brainer. Even though, you know, it's sort of, it's confusing to people at times. It's like we, you know, why are you doing this? But you're Mexican and. Yeah. And and but again, it has held me have conversations with people, folks in spaces that I've never imagined myself to be in.

00:12:09:23 - 00:12:39:21
Unknown
And and because of those things, it opened. It has opened doors for me. It has, helped me build community, helped me start, other, good and partnerships, collaborations, conversations. And that's why we decided to do it. It was like, this is perfect. It goes to with everything that we believe. So I was saying, are you tired of burning through your marketing budget faster than you can say, ROI, posting on social media, crickets?

00:12:39:21 - 00:13:03:23
Unknown
Running ads, more crickets, watching your marketing strategy flop like a fish out of water while you quietly sob into your coffee. Fear not. This episode of the Teevee show Podcast, brought to you by, well, Me Teevee, the marketer founder of Rockstar Marketing. Here to stop the madness. We take your marketing dollars and actually make them do something like work one video content and as a stop your audience from scrolling faster than they stop for a baby panda video.

00:13:04:00 - 00:13:26:20
Unknown
Yeah, we do that. So if you don't setting your marketing dollars on fire, there's a rockstar marketing. And let's turn those crickets into cash. It's, it's fascinating because you would assume there's no connection, but I have the belief that we're all human, so there is a connection. We all have struggle. We all have culture, we all have dance.

00:13:26:22 - 00:13:49:04
Unknown
And there is a connection. It's just the threat is there if we just look and and pull it out. To me, it's all connected to me. Everything, the dance, the culture. It's just a matter like I see black people, African Americans, Africans dancing, cumbia. I see white folks dancing kizomba. I see Mexicans dancing, you name it.

00:13:49:08 - 00:14:07:14
Unknown
We can all dance because I think that's something that unifies us all. And it's a that's one of the most common threads. This is music. And this is one of the ways that, people can really connect and understand stories and other cultures in ways that they wouldn't otherwise, because it just doesn't resonate with them. But music and dance is one thing that absolutely does.

00:14:07:14 - 00:14:28:10
Unknown
So for me, it was a genius move on your part, culturally speaking, but also business wise. People come, people get, they get shown your space. They they see how beautiful it is and they want to talk about it. They take photos. So it I think anything culturally related not only is relevant for the human spirit, but also business wise, like they want to be a part of this.

00:14:28:10 - 00:14:46:19
Unknown
They want to take some of this stuff home. And I also wanted to say I had a friend recently. He told me I do, I've done improv. And he said, I never understood why you did improv, but now I do. And it's the same thing is, I understand why you do dance. Because dance is is life all all the cultures?

00:14:46:19 - 00:15:38:18
Unknown
When things were not going well, they would dance there. They're the in Angola with kizomba and in Mexico, bison were dancing. We need something to express what's going on. So to think that is not connected, I think is a foolish thing that's always connected. Well, someone that I, I actually, taking classes from who is in marketing and recently published a book, talks about culture as a vehicle for identity, for conversations and how each one of us individually or as a community, we just culture as a place to start, creating an identity, to start conversations, to start many things.

00:15:38:18 - 00:16:06:05
Unknown
Yeah. You're in the same room. Yeah, exactly. And rooms you wouldn't be in otherwise. Yeah. Generally we don't think of it as, as such, but it is. And we just again, beginning to see the impact of culture and cultures in our everyday lives. Additionally, I think it's just respecting each other's culture. It's knowing like, oh, I'm God, this is so much fun.

00:16:06:05 - 00:16:26:17
Unknown
This is beautiful. And it's undervalued and underestimated until you become a part of it. Come out and dance. Come out and dance kizomba like we are. So like and I'm probably beaten that the topic of. But it's just something that I think we undervalue and underappreciated in in the world. Having said that, what do you see yourself doing?

00:16:26:17 - 00:16:58:18
Unknown
What other businesses do you have? Because you said, oh, the ones I have here, like, what else are you doing that, that, we bought. So we still, I still, do, promotions, marketing promotions, with our oldest customer, which has been bimbo USA. Guess, we still do promos. Primarily. We focus on live events. Sporting facilities, college sports.

00:16:58:23 - 00:17:39:11
Unknown
It's our biggest, niche at the moment. Just because the brand is going through a process of maturing from, our first, girl I did was in high school, and then we went from high school students to college students, watches the space where we're at. So anything college related, we try to be around the country. We focus on schools that are primarily, popular in some capacity in their respective sports, whether it's football, basketball and soccer.

00:17:39:13 - 00:18:19:20
Unknown
Those are the three areas or sports that we focus the most. But of course, any opportunity to have any major sport, whether it's NBA or, NFL will go at it. But that's something else that we've been doing for, gosh, many years. But, that, that, that in itself has been, a very, rewarding experience because it connects a corporate account, a corporate business with, mom and pop type of, feel or a smaller business capacity.

00:18:19:22 - 00:18:57:11
Unknown
And, and then on that space, it's been fascinating to see how many big corporate accounts or businesses may not have all of the necessary, personnel to execute many things within their own business. So oftentimes they rely on smaller businesses like ourselves, like yourselves, to execute xyzzy, whatever it is that they don't either have the personnel or the capacity to execute.

00:18:57:13 - 00:19:32:12
Unknown
And that's why is super important. And I'm going to do a little plug here. Please do. That's why it's super important to be out and about, connect with your local chambers. Whether is the Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, they can put you in spaces where bigger businesses, more mature businesses, corporate businesses may be in the room and may be needing, you know, help in some capacity, whether it's social media, whether it's marketing of our businesses.

00:19:32:12 - 00:20:01:10
Unknown
Yes. Whether it's, catering. Yes. Photography. And and that's why that's why, again, is super important to, to connect and to network and to partner with, organizations like the your local chamber, oakleaf chamber of Commerce. Fantastic. Chamber. Congratulations on being being on the board nominated position given. How does that work? Yeah, yes I did it was I was, invited to participate.

00:20:01:12 - 00:20:37:06
Unknown
You go through a interview process, selection process, and eventually you get, chosen to be part of the chamber. And I am a member of the Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce board of directors, and my, one of my responsible. It is this year as a new member is to, be responsible for fundraising, which is, an area that it's very much needed, but it's so important, right.

00:20:37:11 - 00:21:06:09
Unknown
Because that money. Yes. Yes. Yeah. And putting them in it, you need to have a solid foundation, solid amount of money, you know, to continue to do the work that that we are and, you know, responsible for, for doing, which is to help small businesses, small Hispanic, Latino businesses in the Dallas-Fort worth area, Dallas area. How do you what do you think can be done to make that connection to to help them?

00:21:06:09 - 00:21:35:08
Unknown
Well, what are some what is what is your first initiative? Yeah, yeah. So my first, my first, initiative, which I mentioned before, is to bring smaller businesses like myself, mom and pop businesses from oakleaf or from other areas of Dallas for Dallas to the chamber, I've always felt that there's a there's a disconnect between the smaller mom and pop when you're first starting, when you first need the most support, support, whether it's mentorship.

00:21:35:11 - 00:22:03:15
Unknown
Yeah. Or a war capacity. So I want to bring those folks to the chamber from out. Come in. Yeah. How are we going to do that? Well, to start, just, whether you say coffee with the chamber, networking events, where we can put all these folks in again in this spaces where these conversations are happening or just where they get a chance to meet each other.

00:22:03:15 - 00:22:26:18
Unknown
Yeah, I would imagine. Or meet the guys from the chamber and learn about the different programs that the chamber offers, which is one of the things that I was informed, when I first started having, exposure to the Greater Dallas Spanish Chamber of Commerce, I was informed of the different programs that they have that I didn't know.

00:22:26:21 - 00:23:02:13
Unknown
Okay. And that they offer. But it takes two to tango. What does that mean? Meaning that they have the programs, but it takes some initiative from me, mom and pop business to go out and search or look for a place so that I can come together in and learn and participate. That is research. So basically, as smaller businesses, they're not they don't know that there's opportunities that there's there's funds that there's programs to help them close the gap in information and funding and collaboration.

00:23:02:13 - 00:23:27:08
Unknown
Correct. I was was it fair to say, you tell me, because I haven't really played in this mom and pop brick, brick, mortar kind of position, but especially with Hispanic business owners that they feel like they have to do it on their own and just had a hustle, hustle, hustle, which is fine. But knowing that there are groups that are built and set up with the intention that of supporting you, that there is funding, that there is programs, training even I'm imagining.

00:23:27:12 - 00:23:44:03
Unknown
I've seen some of the the stuff on the websites, the, the change chamber websites where programs are a calendar of events that are available. But you have to know to go look, is it fair to say that you just don't know what you don't know? And we need to make sure that they're informed so they can make a decision?

00:23:44:03 - 00:24:17:04
Unknown
Yeah, I feel I feel like some of the first challenges are how do we inform promote the initiatives that already exist, and how do we make sure that those get to the right people, to the mom and pop? Yeah, the newcomers to the new entrepreneurs. Yeah. And, something that I discovered literally within the last four of three, 3 or 4 months is that there are many groups, many organizations that have been created for many years.

00:24:17:06 - 00:24:51:13
Unknown
One, I'm going to mention two, or the first one that comes to mind is someone that came to my restaurant or also three months ago, one regarding the name of the organization is Excelencia Empresario, which has been in existence for 14 years. It is a cultural, multi diverse group of entrepreneurs from different countries to mention a few Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Dora, that's a few.

00:24:51:15 - 00:25:26:04
Unknown
Yeah. Like the the members of this organization are from many different countries and they are again, they've been existence for at least 14 years. And they've been having these meetings, these networking activities to help. Never heard of each other. Yeah. The grand majority of these segments primarily, happen in, Spanish setting language. But the the way that they are able to help each other is been amazing.

00:25:26:06 - 00:25:50:08
Unknown
Again, I met them three months ago. Because one of their members hosted their birthday party here at Ojo. This person they had had the birthday party here, took the time from their event to introduce me. I don't think there was. I know there was no agenda, but she took the time to introduce me to almost everybody that attended her birthday party.

00:25:50:13 - 00:26:18:13
Unknown
And one of the members was the president of this organization who said, hey, I'm so-and-so. I like you to come to one of our meetings. Which I did. It happened in Plano or, Mexican restaurant Plano, and I was blown away one because of all the activities that took place during that networking event. Two, because of the interest and in collaborating with them, almost everybody there was there.

00:26:18:13 - 00:26:43:03
Unknown
I was about to say it seemed like the collaboration is through the roof. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And again and then the programing over the event was amazing, which I, I personally never seen, which was the highlight of the event was how some of the members then wanted to step up and talk about their business, had the opportunity to do so.

00:26:43:06 - 00:27:00:04
Unknown
And I think that was very valuable because we are all by nature very shy and it's very difficult to get in front of the mic to get in front of a camera and talk about you, you know, talk about your business or we need you to do that is the most important thing. So we needed that. We fell out.

00:27:00:04 - 00:27:27:19
Unknown
Yeah. We have such a difficult time to talk about us and to brag about us, to brag about our business. So having and seeing that in action, in a space they created that safe space to do so without any judgment, without any almost like they could practice. Yeah. Some reps in, in the moment such it was such a cool thing for me to see because I know myself I had my own challenges.

00:27:27:21 - 00:27:52:01
Unknown
So again, to go to a place where I didn't know anybody and to have an opportunity to get up there and say, hi, I'm Antonio and I own juju, I own a restaurant, and I own ask, why is that? Why? It sounded like it just flowed so well a second ago with you. Yes. But again, having that space, into creating that culture, that moment, it's very unique.

00:27:52:01 - 00:28:22:18
Unknown
So I give props to acceleration personnel for creating the space and for having that consistency, which is one of the reasons why I always admire you and your initiatives, because you've been consistent. You are a door, which is so important on anything that we do. Thank you. But it takes a lot of guts. It. And it takes a lot to to do.

00:28:22:23 - 00:28:42:10
Unknown
So, again, I'm one of your biggest fans. I appreciate that. And and going back to one of the first questions that you mentioned about how you ended up in clear for that. I mean, whether or not you whether you know it or not. You talking about Oak Leaf, you're talking about Fiesta, you're talking about your experiences at Fiesta.

00:28:42:12 - 00:29:13:07
Unknown
Your experiences have, been an employer of Fiesta. And so in the previous life, I was in management in the grocery business, and my last tenure was at Fiesta. Right. But it was also your grounding, your training space, whether you know it or not, it actually set you for where you are today because all of the challenges or all of the learning experiences that you happen to have at the time.

00:29:13:09 - 00:29:31:00
Unknown
It prepare you. It gave me the reps to manage and to to to work with people and to try to move them. I was in management and leadership. And I had to learn and I had been doing that. I was in management in the grocery space for 18 years. In the last space, yes. The, I needed all those reps to become comfortable.

00:29:31:01 - 00:29:47:10
Unknown
And I was good at moving people, but I was not good at talking to your point. And I, when I first started the business. And this you bring up something that's very important is we have to be comfortable talking about ourselves. Maybe not in a vain way, but how are we? Are people going to know what we do if we don't tell them what we do?

00:29:47:12 - 00:30:21:06
Unknown
So early on, I had to start getting comfortable doing this, to be able to get good, because it had to be. You have to be okay not being good for a while and do it publicly. And you hear a funny, funny story in one of our recent sessions with the board of directors of the Greater Dallas Chamber of Commerce, okay, it was mentioned how we as an institution don't do enough of bragging about the successes.

00:30:21:07 - 00:30:45:22
Unknown
The, the community, the business. How do they support the we support. So humblebrag they call it these days, but we need to do so. And again, there was mention like, hey, one of our members, they went through our programs at the chamber, just got $100 million contract with the institution, and another one got a $2 million contract with another business.

00:30:46:03 - 00:31:04:20
Unknown
And those are the things that we don't brag about. So. And we need to from a marketer's perspective, this is a perfect opportunity. Oh, there's multiple there. Never mind the big ones. But these are all stories that we need to be sharing with the world to share our successes. And also some of our failures are when we stumble.

00:31:04:22 - 00:31:18:20
Unknown
I like to share those from time to time, but as a as a group, as an organization, you need to be telling those so they know, like, look, you could be a part of this or you can be you can be 100,000, maybe not a 100 million. I mean, those are stories that the world needs to know about.

00:31:18:20 - 00:31:36:09
Unknown
And so you don't share them. If you don't promote them, then it it they people are going to feel like there's no real value until you talk about it. Us talk about you have to be comfortable and do it in a way that's just classy. There's no there's no reason to feel like I know where I'm not. Well, that means no, no, we need to talk about it.

00:31:36:11 - 00:31:58:04
Unknown
Why else is anyone going to pay attention? Give us the time of day. So thank you for that. Now, how do you see this area changing in the next ten years? Well, I band because I know you're you are now literally a part of the the core group that's going to help make those decisions. Well, I've been told that I've been told that is.

00:31:58:04 - 00:32:18:01
Unknown
And that's my impression. And. Yes. And I've been told that actually a few times. And, I honestly wonder how did this how did you stumble into it? Yes. How did this happen? Because I didn't I'm not the plan as far as I am concerned. I mean, I we're passionate about what we do, meaning we're passionate about you, you cultural shop.

00:32:18:01 - 00:32:46:19
Unknown
We're passionate about having the opportunity to present the culinary aspect of, of, of of our country, Mexico, how we can incorporate that, how can we expand that and utilize that as a, as a part of our branding as part of our messaging? That's what we are super passionate about. But as a result of that passion, people, you're going to get that passion on people.

00:32:46:19 - 00:33:14:11
Unknown
Yeah, a lot of people have like, uses as a reference and someone that we have my ear a lot, which is remodeling in France from shaman and from ayahuasca. Recently, through conversations, they said, hey, you and us, I mean, they used us as a reference to say we are the brands, the the spaces pillar. Yeah.

00:33:14:11 - 00:33:39:05
Unknown
The pillars. Yes. I can see then of Jefferson. Yes. Because so yes, culturally people are looking at Jefferson and Oakleaf in a different light. And to me I was like, what? How does that happen? How it happens? Because you're leading, you're doing and being you're you're everything about you is vivid. If we're living out loud and this entire year, if you walk into this space, I had to plug it a little bit.

00:33:39:07 - 00:33:57:15
Unknown
He walked into this space. We even had trouble trying to figure out where to shoot this because everything is is eye catching. It's cultural. It's it just resonates with people. So you're being so loud, vividly. Even with the music, I couldn't help but hear the kizomba coming in that you're going to make an impression on people. And that's what y'all are both doing.

00:33:57:19 - 00:34:22:16
Unknown
So I want to kind of go sideways for a little bit because you are doing and creating opportunities. You're helping other people. So going back to the Monday Nike Zumba, you're hosting this event. It's free. Obviously, we're bringing in people, but you're inspiring people through just being like the people that are coming in, the deejays, the dancers, they're they're being introduced to you, to the space, to this, to this space, which is oakleaf.

00:34:22:21 - 00:34:43:22
Unknown
So you're you're leading whether you know it or not. You're you're impressing people. You're impressing upon them. And it's it's the, the craziest thing because I'll say to to hear they or to hear you tell me that the reason you even got to a cliff is because of something that I said that's. Think about that. Like how that even comes about the whole butterfly effect.

00:34:43:22 - 00:35:19:05
Unknown
Right. Well, well but but but it's you see, that's the beauty of, of, of dance, of community, of having conversations and to putting yourself out there because is not an easy thing, which is something that often happens in the dance communities where I think many people that enjoy dancing. Go there because they're looking for a place where we can create community.

00:35:19:05 - 00:35:51:12
Unknown
Yeah. And once you find it, whether it's in dancing, kizomba dancing, salsa or even business. Yeah. Yes. The business community, once you find that space is a safe. So. Yep. And once you find your safe space, you start having deeper and more meaningful conversations, which with you and I, even with our own differences in the experiences being here in this country, your experience is much different than mine.

00:35:51:12 - 00:36:22:19
Unknown
Yeah, but even with that, we were able to create trust. Yeah. And from there, create share more opportunities. Yes. More deeper conversations have more impact. Yes. I love that, by the way, which is what you've done for me. And and then we've been able to grow from it because whether you know it or not, the way that you took on.

00:36:22:21 - 00:36:48:10
Unknown
Kizomba and the role that you played in the kizomba scene, dancing scene in the community. You'll make me cry. Well, no, no, this is important. This is super important because I don't think people realize, again, impact. I don't think people or we don't often talk about these things, especially guy to guy or Latino to Latino. It doesn't matter.

00:36:48:12 - 00:37:20:10
Unknown
Another show, another podcast would do it. I would it doesn't happen often, but it is true. Is so nice too. Especially for other men, for other Latinos, for new Latinos, or for any man. Younger guys looking at having heart to hard conversations with other guys. Yeah, it's not a common thing. Yeah, it's super difficult. It is not part of the culture.

00:37:20:10 - 00:37:39:19
Unknown
Yeah. It is a space that I that I hope sooner rather than later changes. But anyway, hey, remember earlier when I told you about Rockstar marketing and how we could stop your marketing strategy from flopping around like a fish in the desert? Yeah, that's still true. But maybe you didn't catch that. Maybe you're thinking, oh, I'll just keep throwing money at random ads, I'm sure.

00:37:39:19 - 00:37:59:02
Unknown
Something to say eventually, right? Wrong. Spoiler alert it won't. Look, you don't want to be that business owner that keeps trying to solve their marketing woes or duct tape and wishful thinking. You need results, need Rockstar not marketing. So if you're finally ready to stop a slow motion train wreck, that is your current marketing plan. There's a rockstar marketing.

00:37:59:02 - 00:38:26:12
Unknown
Let's make your business the rockstar it deserves to be. Otherwise, enjoy those crickets. And now back to our show. Again, the way that you that you took upon yourself a passion of yours, which at the time was, dancing. Yes. That you found in the kizomba world? Yes. By space. And then you took it to another, another level.

00:38:26:13 - 00:38:56:23
Unknown
You were consistent. You were passionate. You were, disciplined. Had to be, and and to and to to do that for years. It's remarkable. Especially again, you're a Latino. You are of, Mexican heritage. So again, it's not my it's not my natural predisposition. You fight with a lot of lemons from different places, but you stay focused.

00:38:56:23 - 00:39:24:11
Unknown
Yes. You continue. And that to me, respect. I mean, again, I don't think you know this, but whenever people would, would make, references about you as like, listen, if you're not leading from the front, I appreciate that. That means I just step back. I took a few shots. Don't you know, leading. Yeah. Yeah. Why are we having why are you investing any time it comes to the space.

00:39:24:15 - 00:39:46:21
Unknown
Right, right, right. But but you did it. And and again. And how a lot of impact for people, whether we were active or not, like myself or for people like the person that brought us together, which is Allen. Allen. Yes. Yes. He moved here because of the community that was created. Right. So, so, so this is totally random, but it's at 316.

00:39:46:23 - 00:40:07:04
Unknown
Again, he moved here because of a community culture impact. Being disciplined leadership. Well forgot about that. I mean there is just so many angles that you can think of. But anyway, yeah. So I created the community to to dance. I wanted to dance. I ended up meeting my fiancé on the dance floor. She came in the room.

00:40:07:05 - 00:40:26:04
Unknown
Wow. That's how you know. So did you know that? Yeah. Yeah. She walked in as she walked into the event and, basically fell in love right away. She couldn't help it. I know, I know, but I created it just selfishly, as a place, a dance. But, like, somebody has to do it. I'm a marketer. Let me just suck it up and and push forward.

00:40:26:06 - 00:40:41:06
Unknown
I knew that if it could be done, it just needed a lot of effort and need a lot of sacrifice. I never made a painting from it. And that's why people can't do it, because it takes so much effort. It takes a lot of time. It takes money and advertising. And it was it was a personal passion project that I invested in.

00:40:41:08 - 00:40:57:20
Unknown
So I stepped away a few years ago. It I grew it and then it became a national thing. People knew that Dallas had a great scene, and I ran it like a business. I had to be run like a business. And the problem with a lot of people is that they it's just a little project and it's fine, but it has to be run like a business.

00:40:57:20 - 00:41:23:19
Unknown
If you people want you want people to take it seriously. And it became established and we did the first Monday. And the idea of the fact and this is how we can bring it back to you. We we have it here with you. I used to have this, this idea early on in like, it has to be sorry, old people, established people that are really going to help this grow and expand because it's still a relatively new dance in the country and especially in Dallas.

00:41:23:21 - 00:41:43:12
Unknown
It needs people that could have, a better foundation and can actually sustain it. So I took that mantle on in terms of hosting it, and then, but still needed people that are willing to actually be the venue for it. I had somebody up north that, Monday night, he's on the north with EBU at Aldi's restaurant, who's been a fantastic host.

00:41:43:12 - 00:41:58:23
Unknown
And when you came, like a corset, that would be you. It has to be someone that's already passionate about it. I didn't have to sell you on it. In fact, we just had to, like. You want to do it? Yeah. You want to do it? Yeah. Let's do it. And you've carried it on and carried on. My little baby.

00:41:58:23 - 00:42:19:02
Unknown
I've left it. I'm happy being away. I come in, just show up and dance now. But you helping bring so many cultures and communities. It's it's perfect. It's also in your hands. And you're, you're doing it in a way that that is true to the my vision when I created it. It's only right that it also is in Oak Cliff.

00:42:19:02 - 00:42:34:09
Unknown
I don't have to drive so far north. Everything about it is beautiful. And then I know it's in good hands between yourself, Gilbert, and some of the other, just for John Trini. Gilbert. I want to make sure to say those. Brianna. Oh, she be on is a part of that group? Yes. Oh, Brianna, I'm sorry about the,

00:42:34:11 - 00:42:55:15
Unknown
It makes it makes my heart happy that something that I'm passionate about is still living. And it's in good hands, and it's in Oak Cliff. It's in Bishop Arts. And the people that are moving into the city, I mean, there's so many, lofts and apartments going up houses and everything. There's a lot of people here, beautiful people.

00:42:55:17 - 00:43:16:03
Unknown
I want Oak Cliff to change the image to change. And you're helping change that. So I have to ask you again. Where do you see it in ten years? Do you have, say, five, maybe ten years? Too far, too far. I because ten years ago she was she was 12. So, yeah. I mean, honestly, I haven't I honestly haven't had the time to cut.

00:43:16:05 - 00:43:47:07
Unknown
That's very far. It is. What I can tell you is that, oak leaf is changing by the second, and it's changing. Getting a part, changing in a positive way. Everything that is happening in the neighborhood, it's a positive change, even with the differences of opinion of what? You know, of the changes that are taking place. And that's only natural.

00:43:47:12 - 00:44:18:05
Unknown
You know, I was able to attend, different meetings, but one of them was, offered by the city of Dallas, and it was hosted here at the, Oak Cliff Cultural Center just down the street. Yeah. And see if I could talk to, So they were they they talked about, the plans for Jefferson Boulevard and the impact that Jefferson Boulevard is having and will continue to have for the city of Dallas.

00:44:18:10 - 00:44:47:13
Unknown
So bigger, bigger initiatives. So, oh, they have that part that they're building. Right? So there's there's the Jefferson over the bridge. It's one of it's it's already is, but it will continue to be one of the pillars of the city culture. And I love the city. Yes. Or the city of Dallas. And for that reason, you know, you're having that new park that is scheduled to open, I believe, to the end of this year.

00:44:47:13 - 00:45:14:10
Unknown
Yeah. Which is, right by the, the zoo, the suit. Yes. And if you get an opportunity, you take a, take a drive by and and see what's happening, but how that's going to connect the one side of Jefferson Boulevard and 35 and the impact that that's going to have, the economic impact that that's going to have for the residents, for the businesses, you know, and for the future of the city.

00:45:14:10 - 00:45:50:12
Unknown
And Oak Cliff. It's just remarkable. And it's a positive world. I and, let's end there because I definitely want to say that and put an exclamation right there. This is going to be a cultural Mecca. And the fact that you are at the center of that makes me extremely happy that someone that I personally know and have known for many years, and I know your character makes me happy that, to be your friend to this and know that you are doing that here and that you're helping connect all these cultures, it is a cultural Mecca and not just Mexican culture.

00:45:50:12 - 00:46:16:03
Unknown
Obviously we're here. Let me get those are here. But outside of that, we can all play in the same sandbox and show our colors. Yeah, yeah. That does, you you hit a couple of points. I know there's a lot of initiatives to either create or have in us, assignment of our cultural district. I don't remember that.

00:46:16:05 - 00:46:52:06
Unknown
I see what you term. Yes, but I know that there are conversations in play to, to have the nomination or the nomination of having or Cliff as the cultural hub or the cultural center. Yeah. For the city of so much art and culture. And you mentioned another thing that is important to bring up, which is the fact that today oakleaf is a multicultural neighborhood, is no longer a Mexican neighborhood.

00:46:52:12 - 00:47:23:18
Unknown
It used to be, but it's changed. And today, and actually for the last few years, oakleaf is going through a change. And that means that there are many, many cultures represented here in oakleaf. And that's important to mention because, whether you have a coffee here at Sherman, whether you have, ice cream at, Melinda mexicana down the street, the Jamaican restaurant down the street, too.

00:47:23:18 - 00:47:51:17
Unknown
Right. Unfortunately, the more, it was so good. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Good. But I'm pretty sure that any more men, we're going to have more and more multicultural businesses in the neighborhood that, will continue to, to add, you know, just, amazing, spaces for the community. So there's a lot of things, beautiful things happening around here.

00:47:51:20 - 00:48:16:19
Unknown
Thank you. I'm I'm excited for the future. I'm excited to to still call myself and or in the, I'm downtown, but I still come here often. My parents live here. And I'm very, very proud to be to have come up here in that this coming back around and we're we're turning up, turning the story around and that it's it's not going to be if people have that impression is because they just refuse to to actually come down and check it out.

00:48:16:21 - 00:48:54:02
Unknown
But that's on them. Shame on them. Yeah. You know what? We, as part of our initiatives, promotional initiatives and marketing initiatives for the businesses, for you, you and also and, Coco, yes, we are being intentional about collaborating on the digital space, whether it's through, inviting, influencers or people of influence, to our businesses so that they can help us influence.

00:48:54:02 - 00:49:20:18
Unknown
Yeah, influence and change the message. Yes. Yeah, yeah. The we are brand ambassadors. Yeah. Of oakleaf. And like, our business, all the businesses around us. Yeah. To help us change that conversation. And to give you an example, I, someone that is an influencer in the Latino well, she's a Latina, but she's an influencer. And I recently saw her video.

00:49:20:20 - 00:49:51:10
Unknown
Oh. She visited a coffee shop close by, but she actually got a lot of, negative feedback, of course, for spending time in a on a sunny day in oakleaf. How I, a lot of people were telling her, hey, get out of there is super dangerous, don't know what live, blah, blah blah. And you know, she certainly replied a lot saying, hey, it was my first time because she is a new, fairly new to Dallas.

00:49:51:10 - 00:50:15:18
Unknown
Okay, she's a popular influencer. But, again, everybody the the saw, the video, clearly has never really come here. Right. And you can't have that. Okay. And that's exactly what we are going to focus on in 2000. Yes. Okay, fine. I love that businesses let me know how I can help so that we can change that conversation.

00:50:15:20 - 00:50:40:02
Unknown
Let them know that oakleaf, is no more, what it used to be. We've grown up. Yeah, yeah. Grown up. Come on. And and like many places around the country, around the city, things are changing for the good. Yeah. So please come to live. Thank you very much, Antonio. I appreciate your friendship. I appreciate this conversation.

00:50:40:04 - 00:51:04:08
Unknown
I'll make sure to include links to an address to your your various joints here in Bishop Arsenal. Clare, is there any final thoughts that you'd like to share? Any any final notes? Well, I mentioned earlier that we are the worst, promoting our own businesses to suicide. Take a rip. Yeah. So I want to encourage everyone that gets a chance to see us.

00:51:04:08 - 00:51:29:22
Unknown
Us to come and support our businesses. Whether you need a gift, a very special gift. They're very cool. Things are looking for, place to have a delicious meal, come to eat. One of our restaurants, whether it's here at Archer or whether it's in at Coco's in Bishop Arts. We look forward to having you. Please come and support.

00:51:29:22 - 00:51:56:04
Unknown
Please come and support the businesses in our neighborhood. And, we look for you. We look forward to having you. Please let them know that she saw this podcast. Of course. And that Teevee sent you. And if you have a chance, check out Monday Night Kizomba and also get to meet people in the community, that are dancing and get to meet that group of people that, are passionate on that end of the spectrum.

00:51:56:06 - 00:52:09:15
Unknown
Having said that, my name is Teevee the marketer. This is the Teevee marketing show, and this is a local business legend doing amazing things. In the neighborhood, in the hood. Have a great day and we'll talk soon. Bye.