On Tuesday, June 21, Norma’s celebrates its 55th anniversary.
For years, the Oak Cliff cafe has been the place to find the gay community on a Sunday morning for brunch. Norma’s has welcomed the LGBT community with open arms ever since the gay community began migrating to Winnetka Heights in the 1970s.
Norma’s walls document the history of Oak Cliff including photos of the original 7-11 (on the corner of Twelfth Street and Edgefield Avenue) and the 1958 tornado. That storm tore through the Kessler Theater, a block away. Though that building was restored to its original glory last year, it stood in disrepair until then.
In its 55 years, Norma’s has expanded to a second location in Far North Dallas along Dallas Parkway past Trinity Mills Road. And Momma’s Daughter’s Diner? Momma is Norma. Her daughter opened a place on Industrial Boulevard and expanded to North Dallas as well.
In 1986, Ed Murph took over Norma’s and changed nothing. (Well, actually, on a visit last weekend, we were pretty sure the white walls had been recently repainted).
To celebrate its anniversary, Norma’s is offering three of its favorite dishes — chicken fried steak, meatloaf, and chicken and dressing along with always-hefty side dishes — for $1.79 on June 21 beginning at 10:30 a.m.
Happy anniversary, Norma’s.