The 7-Eleven at 2008 Commerce Street in downtown Dallas stands boarded up with graffiti drawn on the side of the building, sticking out conspicuously on a street with heavy foot traffic.
But while the reasons for its closure are not clear at this time, The Dallas Morning News reported that there have been a total of 98 calls to 911 from the location in just the past three months, which works out to an average of more than one call every day.
People who live and work nearby the 7-Eleven told The Dallas Express that theft was common at the store and it was also a spot where many homeless and vagrant individuals congregated.
“It’s because of all the homeless coming there,” local Thomas Barron said to The Dallas Express, speculating on why the store was boarded up and closed. “It’s not so much them being homeless as much as the panhandling and theft.”
Barron said he has worked as a server at a local restaurant in the area for more than 30 years. He told The Dallas Express that he thinks the presence of large homeless and vagrant populations can sometimes make people uncomfortable.
“You just don’t want to walk out of the door feeling harassed, and some of them are rude,” he said. “Not all of them are like that though.”
Barron said he noticed another 7-Eleven in downtown Dallas, near a DART stop, that has had similar problems with homeless people, vagrants, and crime.
Cynthia Cooper, who was using a walker outside the 7-Eleven, told The Dallas Express that she is homeless. She said she did not know why the store was now boarded up, but said it was common for homeless people to congregate outside of the 7-Eleven.
“It was a regular store, but some people would sleep outside,” she said.
Two people were observed walking in and out of the 7-Eleven, apparently carrying things in and out of the door. The Dallas Express approached them to ask if they were aware of why the store was closed, but they declined to comment.
The Dallas Morning News reported reaching out to the 7-Eleven and the building landlord for comment but did not receive a reply.
