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Draft:Frank Caven

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Frank Caven
BornJanuary 20, 1920
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedMay 14, 1988 (aged 68)
Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Occupation(s)Entrepreneur, Nightclub owner
Known forFounding Caven Enterprises and key LGBT bars in Dallas, anchoring Oak Lawn's "gayborhood"
PartnerDenis Weir (at time of death)[1][2]

Frank Hartford Caven (January 20, 1920 – May 14, 1988) was an American entrepreneur known for establishing a significant network of LGBT bars in Dallas, Texas, primarily through his company, Caven Enterprises. From the 1970s until his death, Caven's ventures, particularly those concentrated at the intersection of Cedar Springs Road and Throckmorton Street (known as "The Crossroads"),[3] were central to the development of the Oak Lawn neighborhood as the city's primary "gayborhood".[2] Operating during a period of significant legal and social hostility towards LGBT people,[4] Caven's businesses provided crucial social spaces while facing challenges including police harassment, legal battles, and violence.[5][1] His legacy includes establishing venues that evolved into modern landmarks like Station 4, JR's Bar & Grill, TMC, and Sue Ellen's, as well as implementing philanthropic initiatives like the Caven Employees Benefit Association (CEBA).[1][2]

Early Life and Career

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Frank Hartford Caven was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on January 20, 1920, and spent time in Atlantic City, New Jersey.[1] After some business college, he worked for 28 years as a car salesman, dealing various makes in Philadelphia, Atlantic City, and New York, and owning a service station where he sold used cars.[1]

In 1955, Caven moved to El Paso, Texas, identifying an opportunity to sell used cars to soldiers from nearby Fort Bliss.[1]

Entry into the Bar Business

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Goldfinger (El Paso)

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Caven entered the bar business in El Paso. While obituaries suggest his first Texas bar opened there in 1963,[2] a 1979 profile places it later, around 1965.[1] According to the profile, Caven partnered with a G.I. customer who provided capital while Caven secured the liquor license. When the partner ran short of funds, Caven bought him out and opened Goldfinger, which became highly successful.[1]

Arrival in Dallas and Early Ventures (1970s)

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Caven arrived in Dallas in 1969, initially considering an auto agency investment.[1] Observing only a few gay bars, and only one with a liquor license, he saw a market opportunity, particularly for a dance bar.[1] He leased a property on Rawlins Street in Oak Lawn and, in January 1970, opened the Bayou Club, Dallas's first dedicated gay disco.[6][1] The club gained significant publicity after being mentioned in a Dallas Times Herald "Action Line" column questioning the legality of men dancing together, which Caven called "$10,000 worth of free publicity".[1]

Caven also briefly operated the King of Clubs on Field Street.[1] After about two years, he sold the Bayou Club; the new owners eventually relocated it as Bayou Landing, which became a dominant disco.[1] Caven partnered with Bill Simonson to convert the original Bayou Club building into Mother Blues, aimed at a straight clientele, opening successfully in March 1973.[1] Caven later sold his interest.[1]

His next gay disco attempt, the Mark Twain on Lemmon Avenue, struggled against Bayou Landing.[1] It was here Caven met Charley Hott, then a barback studying accounting, whom Caven hired to help with bookkeeping, beginning a long-term business partnership.[1] Caven sold the Mark Twain to Simonson.[1]

Caven Enterprises and The Crossroads

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Caven Enterprises, Inc.

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Caven Enterprises, Inc. was incorporated in 1981.[2] By his death in 1988, Caven reportedly owned up to 60 clubs across several states, though Dallas remained his focus.[6][2] Key partners included Charley Hott and, later, Denis Weir, who became Caven's life and business partner and succeeded him as company president.[1][2]

Dallas Bar Portfolio

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Caven Enterprises operated many prominent Dallas LGBTQ+ venues. Notable establishments included:

Known Dallas Bars Associated with Frank Caven / Caven Enterprises (Note: Timelines and locations for earlier venues may be approximate or based on recollections)
Bar Name Known Locations/Evolution Era/Notes Source(s)
Bayou Club Rawlins St, Oak Lawn Opened Jan 1970. First Dallas gay disco. Sold after ~2 years. [6][1]
King of Clubs Field St Early 1970s. Short-lived, sold by Caven. [1]
Mother Blues Rawlins St (former Bayou Club) -> Lemmon Ave (former Mark Twain) Opened Mar 1973. Straight clientele focus. Caven sold interest to partner Bill Simonson. [1]
Mark Twain Lemmon Ave Mid-1970s. Gay disco. Struggled vs. Bayou Landing. Sold to Bill Simonson. [1]
Old Plantation (OP) Early sites (Rawlins St?, Denton Dr?) -> Harwood St (Downtown) -> Cedar Springs Rd (current S4 site) Harwood location (opened 1976) popular late 70s disco.[1] Faced arson/sabotage.[5][1] Moved to Cedar Springs after DMA acquired land.[2] Later became Village Station. [1][2][5]
Throckmorton Mining Company (TMC) Throckmorton St (original site) -> Current site (Cedar Springs Rd, former Sue Ellen's site) Opened 1978.[3] Swapped locations with Sue Ellen's. Operated by Caven Ent. [3][2]
JR.'s Bar & Grill Cedar Springs Rd @ Throckmorton St Opened 1980.[2] Expanded multiple times. Operated by Caven Ent. [2]
Sue Ellen's Cedar Springs Rd (original site) -> Current site (Throckmorton St, former TMC site) Opened early 1980s. Named after Dallas character. Swapped locations with TMC. Oldest lesbian bar in TX. Operated by Caven Ent. [2]
Village Station Cedar Springs Rd (Zini's/Skivvies bldg) -> Cedar Springs Rd (current S4 site) Renamed from Old Plantation post-move. Briefly at former 4001 site, then moved to current S4 site (1990s). Site of 1979 police raid.[7] Rebuilt as S4. [2][7]
Station 4 (S4) Cedar Springs Rd (current site) Evolved from Village Station via major remodel/rebuild (opened late Nov 2004).[8] Large nightclub with Rose Room. Operated by Caven Ent. [9][10]
4001 Cedar Springs Rd (Zini's/Skivvies building) Caven disco. Building later housed first Village Station briefly. [2]
The Candy Store Unknown location (possibly current Sue Ellen's site?) Listed as a Caven bar. [2]
LaFitte's Unknown location Listed as a Caven bar. [2]
The Wooden Nickle Unknown location Listed as a Caven bar. [2]

Old Plantation / Village Station / S4 Lineage

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The evolution from Old Plantation to S4 is central to Caven's Dallas story. The popular late-1970s Old Plantation disco on Harwood Street relocated to Cedar Springs after the DMA acquired its land.[2] Renamed Village Station, it occupied different spots before settling at the current S4 location in the 1990s.[2] This venue became the site of the 1979 police raid dubbed "Dallas' Stonewall."[7] In 2004, a major renovation transformed Village Station into the significantly larger, multi-level Station 4 (S4) complex, including a dramatically expanded Rose Room theater.[10]

Anchoring The Crossroads

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Caven Enterprises strategically concentrated key venues – TMC (1978),[3] JR.'s Bar & Grill (1980),[2] and the Old Plantation/Village Station/S4 complex – at or near the intersection of Cedar Springs Road and Throckmorton Street.[3][2] This intersection became known as "The Crossroads" and the anchor of the Oak Lawn "gayborhood."[3] While LGBTQ+ presence predated Caven,[11] his concentration of high-profile bars solidified the area's identity.[6] The Crossroads also became a center for community services and activism, especially during the AIDS crisis.[3] A Texas Historical Marker commemorating The Crossroads was unveiled in 2018.[3]

Influence and Competition

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While Caven was highly influential, sometimes called the "King of Clubs,"[6] he did not found "all" major gay bars in Dallas.[6][11] He faced competition from venues like Bayou Landing[1] and other long-standing bars like The Round-Up Saloon.[5] His dominance stemmed from the scale, visibility, and strategic placement of his venues, particularly the large discos and the concentration at The Crossroads.[6][3]

Challenges and Controversies

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Caven's establishments operated under constant threat of police harassment in the 1970s and 1980s,[4] including raids and intimidation.[4] The 1979 Village Station raid involving Richard Schwiderski became a pivotal event, sparking community organizing against police targeting.[7] The Dallas Gay Alliance documented harassment,[4] and Caven co-chaired the Dallas Alliance for Individual Rights (DAIR) to legally challenge harassment and discriminatory laws.[1] He also successfully sued the City of Dallas over operating hour restrictions.[2]

Violence and Operational Crises

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Physical threats were also a reality. The Old Plantation reportedly faced arson and sabotage attempts.[5][1] A significant fire heavily damaged the Cedar Springs location during construction in 1976.[1] These incidents reflect the hostility directed at visible gay businesses. Caven also navigated intense market competition, experiencing both successes and failures against rival bars like Bayou Landing.[1]

Later Years and Succession

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Death

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Frank Caven died at his Dallas home on May 14, 1988, at age 68, from cancer.[1][2] Denis Weir, his partner and recently named company president, assured continuity of operations.[2]

Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)

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Years after Caven's death, Caven Enterprises transitioned to an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), making employees beneficial owners of the company, including its real estate.[2][12] This structure was intended as a retirement benefit for employees.[2] It may have roots in the Caven Employees Benevolent Association (CEBA), a trust Caven established during the AIDS crisis to aid employees facing catastrophic situations.[1][2]

Caven Enterprises Today

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Caven Enterprises continues to operate its four core venues at The Crossroads: TMC, JR.'s Bar & Grill, Sue Ellen's, and S4.[2] Greg Kilhoffer was previously cited as president;[2] Mike Nguyen is listed as President & CEO on the current company website.[3]

The company has explored redevelopment options with developer Mike Ablon (Pegasus Ablon) involving building residential towers on parking lots behind the bars while preserving the bar structures.[12] As of late 2022, this project was reportedly on hold due to interest rates.[12]

Legacy

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Frank Caven significantly shaped Dallas's LGBTQ+ social infrastructure and the physical landscape of Oak Lawn. His bars provided crucial gathering spaces during oppressive times,[5] and his concentration of venues anchored The Crossroads as the community's epicenter.[3][6] He introduced popular nightlife formats and engaged in philanthropy, notably through CEBA.[1][6] His legacy is complex, marked by both community building and business acumen, alongside historical accusations of discriminatory practices within his establishments.[6][13] A small park with an obelisk dedicated to Caven exists near The Crossroads.[6]

See Also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai Cartwright, Gary (July 1979). "Nightczar of the Gay Bar Set". D Magazine. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad Taffet, David (November 13, 2015). "Frank Caven remembered as a pioneer". Dallas Voice. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Gilchrist, Tracy (June 23, 2020). "50 Years Ago, Gay People Took Over a Dallas Crossroads and Never Left". The Advocate. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
  4. ^ a b c d Taffet, David (August 7, 2015). "Police harassment led to DGA activism that changed Dallas". Dallas Voice. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
  5. ^ a b c d e f Taffet, David (October 21, 2022). "Mike Ablon offers to build around Crossroads bars". Dallas Voice. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Taffet, David (November 13, 2015). "Remembering Frank Caven, the King of Clubs". Dallas Voice. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
  7. ^ a b c d Taffet, David (October 24, 2014). "Arrested for dancing at the Village Station on Oct. 24, 1979". Dallas Voice. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
  8. ^ Nash, Tammye (November 15, 2024). "S4 celebrates 20th anniversary Nov. 23 with 'Journey to the Future' party headlined by DJ Nina Flowers". Dallas Voice. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
  9. ^ "Station 4". Visit Dallas. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
  10. ^ a b Vercher, Dennis (September 10, 2004). "S4 to undergo mammoth remodeling project". Dallas Voice. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
  11. ^ a b Taffet, David (June 24, 2016). "Dallas had gay bars decades before Stonewall". Dallas Voice. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
  12. ^ a b c Brown, Steve (October 19, 2022). "Developer Mike Ablon pitches plan to build around landmark Oak Lawn bars". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
  13. ^ Pulle, Matt (August 11, 2005). "Color Barrier". Dallas Observer. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
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