Stories from Downtown Lubbock

Discover the latest stories, updates, and events shaping the heart of Downtown Lubbock.

Clear Rock Realty & The People-First Investment into Lubbock's Future

Featured

July 31, 2025

Clear Rock Realty & The People-First Investment into Lubbock's Future

611 Broadway holds some of Downtown Lubbock's most treasured gifts. And we're not talking about knickknacks and retail. We're talking about the people of Clear Rock Realty.Clearly Crafted for ConnectionIf you had to describe the Clear Rock experience in one word, it would be intentional. Everything from their office design to how they coach agents, greet clients, or choose to invest in downtown is marked by thoughtfulness, purpose, and care. That intentionality shows up even before you hear their friendly "hello." Glass walls and doors allow the sunshine to pour in, giving an unmistakable sense of openness. Upstairs, the old wooden floors hint at its long-standing history. Old Acme brick walls mix with sleek finishes. It’s a blend of old and new, history and purpose. And it’s no accident.The design of Clear Rock’s space is a direct reflection of founders Tanner Dean and Ruben Trujillo’s deep faith and guiding mission. It wasn’t just the space that took shape with intenti...

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Pioneer Pocket Hotel and Pioneer Condos

An 11-story building between Main Street and Broadway on Avenue K pays homage to the beautiful Renaissance revival architectural landscape of the Roaring Twenties, while also becoming a hallmark of the highs and lows that pepper West Texas’ past.As one of the few remaining pre-World War II buildings left in all of Lubbock, the Lubbock Hotel (later renamed the Pioneer Hotel) has no shortage of history to tell within its walls. Constructed in 1926 as an answer to our country’s desire for railroads and its deep appetite for bold, westward expansion, the Lubbock Hotel was quickly lauded as one of the premier hotels in the area. For over 30 years, the Lubbock Hotel’s grand and opulent ballroom presented itself as the place to be for the social elite, while only a stone’s throw away in the hotel’s lobby, Air Force officers from the nearby base would entertain themselves late into the night. Although formally granted the title of “tallest building in Lubbock,” the h...

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The Cotton Court Hotel – A Boutique Hotel Experience

Inspired by the cotton gins that freckle the South Plains, the Cotton Court Hotel is the newest lodging addition to Downtown Lubbock. With other similar properties in cities like College Station, Austin, and Irving, Lubbock was the natural next location for a Valencia Group Hotel. And with all the revitalization happening, the Valencia Group couldn't think of a better site for their newest hotel than the corner of Broadway and Main Street in Downtown Lubbock. In addition to being in the heart and soul of the city, the hotel's location also offers convenient access to some of Lubbock's biggest attractions including Texas Tech University, the Cultural Arts District, the Depot Entertainment District, Buddy Holly Hall, and the Lubbock Civic Center. Being so close to these amenities makes the Cotton Court Hotel one of the premier places for anyone traveling to Lubbock to stay. The hotel also has its own luxuries that cater to a variety of lifestyles...

Eat & Drink

West Table: Pioneering Cuisine

Cameron and Rachel West traveled the country as they practiced culinary arts for about ten years.They have more than 20 years combined restaurant experience.“We learned lots of different things from different places we’ve been,” Cameron said, “but we really loved the community here in Lubbock,and we really wanted to bring a restaurant to Lubbock that could satisfy the want for a little bit more upscale food in a cool location that people could enjoy.”Their hunt for a building with “character and story” brought them to the former Pioneer Hotel in Downtown Lubbock. They opened The West Table in that building in 2014.“People love to come down here and tell us old stories of being here and being downtown,” Cameron said.“The historic building really helped mold the kind of restaurant we became.”Cameron and Rachel describe The West Table as a “family-run restaurant” with seasonal cuisine.“We work with a lot of local farmers and a lot of local ranchers to provide Lubbock with the b...

Art & Culture

Faces of the Storm from the 1970 Tornado

Dr. Monzer Attar moved to the south from Maryland seeking the warm weather. He came to Lubbock in January of 1968 and joked the first day he was here it was snowing. Dr. Attar was an accomplished gastroenterologist and joined a practice as a 28-year-old young man and former “Mr. Lebanon.” Attar had just gotten off from work on May 11, 1970, and was leaving the West Texas Hospital driving on 10th Street when he noticed the sky became very dark. On Q and 10th, his car was struck through the windshield with flying debris. Dr. Attar recounts, “I turned my head to look over my shoulder—if I’d not done that, I’d be dead.” The 2 x 4 board hit him in the face, knocking him out and causing severe facial trauma. Ronnie Overby and Ken Brendle were the two Lubbock police officers who found him, still gripping the steering wheel. They asked him to get out of the car and took him in their patrol car to the Emergency Room of Covenant Hospital (Methodist Hospit...