9:12 a.m. on a Tuesday at Boulangerie on Lower Greenville.
Welcome to Snapshot, a new feature here on Central Track that aims to slow things down a bit by taking the time to appreciate and examine the overlooked slices of life that occur all around us. Through exploring an intersection, watching a neighborhood, observing a moment or taking a peek behind an oft-forgotten corner, this photo series aims to capture the sights and sounds of Dallas and the surrounding areas — things that most people might zip right past without a second glance. Here, we demand a deeper look.
9:12 a.m. on a Tuesday at Boulangerie on Lower Greenville. The glass front of this casual cafe faces east, filling the small bakery with rays of sunshine every morning. Harsh beams cut through the glass, sliced only by the large triangular shadows cast over the pre-arranged plates hung on the wall. Croissants glisten in the display cases. A trail of customers' faces reflect against the large window in the back where a man named Pancho is baking.
Compared to some of the larger-scale eateries in Dallas, with their massive dining rooms and excessive square footage, Boulangerie's walk-in closet-sized space mostly feels cozy. Like most places in Texas, Dallas businesses have historically circumvented the fates of New York businesses, which pay an arm and a leg to eek out something workable in a shoebox-sized space. But with a growing international trend toward downsizing — hello, tiny homes — that's changing.
Boulangerie's snug little spot is a model that others would be do well to adopt. This business' intimacy is a feeling that could carry over wonderfully to other parts of the city.
There's no question it works well here: Each square foot of space is used to its utmost efficiency, and the natural lighting makes the minimalist atmosphere feel so much bigger than it is. That, as most creatives are no doubt aware, is because lighting creates optical illusions.
Really, the rays of light make Boulangerie feel quite comfortably large.