Cooper Street will be closed to traffic between Division and Main streets from midnight to 6 a.m. Thursday and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday. Union Pacific will continue replacing concrete track panels on the street’s railroad crossing during construction hours, according to a City of Arlington Facebook post. Drivers can continue using alternative north and south railroad crossings at Fielder Road, West Street, Center and Mesquite streets, Collins Street or Stadium Drive. @taylor._.sansom news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

This is a crime wrap-up from Feb. 17 to Feb. 22 Theft of property On Feb. 17, a male student reported the theft of an external hard drive, UTA Police Capt. Mike McCord said in an email. On Feb. 19, a male student reported the theft of a vehicle he had recently purchased from an individual on social media, McCord said. Theft of property valued between $100 to $750 is a class B misdemeanor punishable by a fine not exceeding $2,000, up to 180 days in jail or both. Theft of property worth $2,500 to $30,000 is a state jail felony punishable by 180 days to two years in a state jail. Perpetrators may also receive a fine not exceeding $10,000. The Feb. 19 case is still active. Criminal trespass On Feb. 18, officers identified an unaffiliated male in a secure building who was arrested and transported to the Arlington Police Department jail, McCord said. If the offender has not been previously convicted of trespassing on higher education property, the offense is a class C misdemeanor punishable by a fine not exceeding $500. If the offender has been previously convicted, the offense is a class A misdemeanor punishable by a fine not exceeding $4,000, up to one year in jail or both. Possession of marijuana On Feb. 22, officers made contact with an unaffiliated male who was found in possession of marijuana in a parked vehicle, McCord said. The male was released at the scene pending investigation. Possession of marijuana two ounces or less is a class B misdemeanor punishable by a fine not exceeding $2,000, up to 180 days in jail or both. @PMalkomes news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

As Muslim students participate in Ramadan, it's important to know what resources and community are available to them. Ramadan marks the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. Muslims believe that the holy book of the Quran was revealed to the Prophet Muhammed during this month. To commemorate this month, Muslims typically fast from sunrise to sunset. This holy month offers a chance for them to rebuild their relationship with God, observe patience and connect with others. Fasting includes all forms of food and drink, including water and chewing gum. Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset, breaking the fast with Iftar. Suhoor is the pre-fast meal. This is done along with the five obligatory daily prayers. Student organizations such as the Muslim Student Association, Pakistan Student Association, Bangladesh Student Association and Arab Student Association provide information to students, including places for prayer and Iftar. “These organizations, together or on their own, host the breaking of the fast for students on campus to come if they’re not able to go home or if they want to have it with a community,” said Wanya Ashraf, Pakistan Student Association president. Muslim organizations have group chats where students can communicate to each other and get together, which can be a source of comfort for those who are away from home. Additionally, they serve as a place to learn about other resources during Ramadan, like prayer rooms and restaurants that are open late. “All the Muslim students here, regardless of their culture or what organizations they’re a part of, especially during Ramadan, everyone is super welcoming and very open to help other students that need it,” she said. Because their schedule shifts with fasting, Ashraf said Muslim students typically have late night study sessions in the library or Trimble Hall. She said common prayer locations for students include the Central Library Basement, secluded classrooms and booked rooms. Until March 29, the Connection Café will have vegetarian and nonvegetarian late-night meal pickups available for students. MSA and PSA are hosting an Iftar Night together 5:30 p.m. March 4 at the Rio Grande Ballroom. Ashraf said all students, Muslim or not, are welcome to share a meal. Students must RSVP for food. “At the end of the day, everyone comes together to go and pray and read the Quran and connect with God together,” Ashraf said. news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

Dallas-Fort Worth residents can anticipate storms, winds and warm weather alongside highs in the high 70s and lows in the 40s. Sarah Barnes, National Weather Service meteorologist, said it will be another rollercoaster of a week, beginning with humid, warm temperatures and storm chances. “We’re looking at potential severe storms Tuesday morning that could impact morning commute or just traveling around in the morning hours,” she said. Tuesday afternoon will have strong winds and Wednesday morning will have cooler temperatures with the high sitting in the mid 60s, Barnes said. Friday will see temperatures moving back into the mid to upper 70s. “Then another cold front as we head into the weekend that will bring some cooler weather back into the region,” she said. @wall035203 news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

UTA softball dominated in the Maverick Invitational, going undefeated Friday and Saturday at Allan Saxe Field. The Mavericks opened the tournament with a 6-0 shutout victory over East Texas A&M University on Friday, setting the tone for their strong performance. UTA followed with two wins against Prairie View A&M University on Saturday. With a perfect record in the tournament, the Mavericks showcased offensive power and resilience. Against East Texas A&M, UTA was led by sophomore catcher Mia McNulty who had a home run and a run batted in. Junior catcher Kailee Bautista went 2-3 and had an RBI. Sophomore infielder Emma Lopez went 2-3 and junior utility player Marley Neises went 1-3, tallying a run. On Saturday, UTA’s offense powered past Prairie View A&M in a 7-2 victory, with the Mavericks tallying nine hits and capitalizing on key at bats. Bautista led the charge, going 1-2 with one run scored and two walks. Junior utility player Elizabeth Baylor added a strong performance, finishing 2-3 with two runs scored. Freshman player Talia Maldonado contributed with a hit and one run, helping UTA maintain steady pressure throughout the game. Redshirt junior infielder Mallory Stone made an impact going 2-2 with an RBI and a run scored, while Madi McDonnell, freshman pitcher and first baseman, chipped in with two hits. Senior pitcher Jessica Adams anchored the defense, holding Prairie View A&M to just four hits and striking out key batters to secure the win. In the second game, UTA secured a 7-6 victory over Prairie View A&M behind a powerful offensive showing, highlighted by two home runs. McDonnell, Neises and Stone each went deep, fueling the Mavericks’ scoring efforts. McDonnell finished 2-4 with one run scored and an RBI, while Neises went 2-3 with two runs, including a home run. Baylor added to UTA’s offensive success, going 1-2 with an RBI, while Lopez contributed with an RBI. The Mavericks showed patience, drawing five walks to keep the pressure on Prairie View A&M’s pitching staff. Sophomore pitcher Abi Gutierrez and Adams combined to secure the win, holding off a late push from Prairie View A&M to keep UTA’s undefeated run intact. The Mavericks will begin a three-game series 3 p.m. March 7 against Utah Tech at Allan Saxe Field. The games will be streamed on ESPN+. @stephanie_q03 sports-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

UTA baseball (3-5) defeated University of Houston (7-3) in the first of the three-game series 7-4 Friday at Clay Gould Ballpark. The Mavericks had a shaky start that allowed three runs in the first inning, forcing head coach Mike Trapasso to make a pitching change. Redshirt senior pitcher Joe Steeber replaced senior pitcher Jack Hagan. Offensively, the Mavericks immediately tied the game in the bottom of the first inning, including loaded bases on two wild pitches by the Cougars. The team responded well, only allowing one run the rest of the game. Steeber said regardless of the situation, he approaches the mound with a “one pitch at a time” mindset. Trapasso said he shuffles lineups throughout the first 15 games to allow everyone to learn and separate themselves. “If you lose a game because you got a guy out there that maybe 20 games down the road won’t be out there, that’s okay because you’re learning these things,” Trapasso said. In the bottom of the second inning, junior infielder Xavier Melendez hit a deep ball to right field, putting UTA in the lead. An at bat later, redshirt junior infielder Tyce Armstrong lined a sharp hit to left field, driving in freshman outfielder Cade Dodson to make it 5-3. Both teams scored in the fourth inning, 6-4, followed by Mavericks ending the Cougars’ fifth inning quickly with back-to-back strikeouts from Steeber. In the sixth inning, Melendez crushed a ball for a triple. He scored the seventh run on a sacrifice out by junior outfielder Xander McAfee. The Mavericks held the Cougars scoreless for five straight innings. After the team’s early inning hiccups, Steeber commended the team’s defensive recovery. “Defense behind me was tremendous,” Steeber said. “Every double play I needed I got. It was perfect.” Melendez, Armstrong and Dodson contributed to the team’s seven runs. Despite the slow start, Melendez said the team played well and finished strong. “I thought we did a great job offensively,” Melendez said. “We got into a little funk early. That’s baseball, and we were able to come back from an offensive side and put up a big three spot in the first inning to kill their momentum.” Freshman shortstop Austin Phillips also made his mark, completing four assisted outs, two of which were double plays. The Mavericks lost the two following games 12-6 and 21-8, ending the series 2-1. The Mavericks will remain home to host Sam Houston State University at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Clay Gould Ballpark. The game will be available to stream on ESPN+. @kaleivie_ sports-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

UTA men’s basketball (13-16, 6-9) fell short to Abilene Christian University (15-14, 7-7), 70-59 on Saturday at College Park Center. The Mavericks celebrated Senior Day by honoring graduates and seniors with a special pregame ceremony. The team gifted a framed jersey to each of the six players recognized alongside family and friends. UTA got off to a slow start offensively and struggled on the offensive glass, giving up 11 second-chance points off 10 offensive rebounds by ACU. The Mavericks trailed 14-3 at the second media timeout. Head coach KT Turner said a lack of defensive effort, bad shooting and rebounding were reasons for the slow start. “That’s the cardinal sin,” Turner said. “Giving offensive rebounds up. We talked about that before the game. We got to rebound.” However, UTA fought its way back into the game, led by a trio of 3-pointers by graduate forward Diante Smith, cutting ACU’s lead to four. The Wildcats scored five unanswered points to close the half leading 32-23. After the break, ACU scored the first five points of the second half before graduate forward Lance Ware took matters into his own hands. Ware went on a personal 10-0 scoring run to bring the game within four. Ware said he took advantage of post-up opportunities set for him to not only score, but find his teammates out of a double-team. Ware finished with a game-high 24 points and 11 rebounds for his 11th double-double of the season. Turner expressed high praise for Ware. “He’s the best big man in this conference. Hands down,” Turner said. Down the stretch, UTA tied the game a few times, but couldn’t overcome ACU’s wire-to-wire lead. The Wildcats went on a 9-0 run to seal the game. “We started really playing hard in the second half. I thought we really fought,” Turner said. “But, we got to play for two halves.” The Mavericks will play their final game of the season 7 p.m. March 8 at California Baptist University. The game will be available to stream at ESPN+. @babyboimatt sports-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

UTA women’s basketball (14-11, 9-5) suffered its first home loss of the season at the hands of Western Athletic Conference-leading Grand Canyon University (26-2, 13-0) 72-59 on Thursday at College Park Center. The Lady Mavericks were off to a good start defensively, causing several turnovers from the Antelopes. However, UTA was unable to overcome a rough half beyond the arc, going 0-8 in 3-pointers during the first half. Despite shooting troubles, UTA only trailed 32-28 at halftime. Fifth-year forwards Koi Love and Avery Brittingham led with a combined 18 points in the half. Heading into the second half, the game flipped on its head. The Antelopes scored a whopping 34 points in the third quarter, lapping the Lady Mavs’ 17 in the period. “The third quarter doomed us,” head coach Shereka Wright said. “We did not respond to the challenge. I thought that they were the most aggressive team and we were not.” UTA put up a fight to start the fourth quarter, going on an 8-2 run led by two threes from junior guard Kali Haizlip which forced GCU to call a timeout. However, comeback efforts were too late, resulting in UTA’s fourth consecutive loss. Brittingham said turnovers contributed to an inconsistent offensive rhythm. “We try to pride ourselves on moving the ball and getting the best shot,” she said. “I feel like tonight we didn’t do as well as we normally do. As far as sharing the ball, that’s somewhere we need to do better. Turnovers, we really struggled taking care of the ball, so I feel like that kind of put us in a hole a little bit.” Brittingham was one of three Lady Mavs, including Love and senior guard Taliyah Clark, who tied at 11 for the most points on the team. As the conference tournament looms, Wright is challenging her team to battle through adversity amid the team’s recent struggles. “It’s a gut-checking time, it’s no sugar coating,” she said. The Lady Mavs will be on the road to face Abilene Christian University at 1 p.m. Saturday. The game will be streamed on ESPN+. @babyboimatt sports-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

It’s finally time. After months of campaigning, premiering, magazine profiles, scandals and precursor awards, the 2025 Oscars will air live 6 p.m. Sunday on ABC and Hulu. From 207 movies eligible for best picture, which recognizes the most excellent film of the year, 10 are nominated but only one will take home the 2025 trophy. Unlike most of the other 22 categories, best picture is voted on a preferential ballot. Ballots are piled based on each voter’s first-choice selection. As votes are counted, the nominee with the fewest ballots had those votes redistributed to other piles based on second choices, third choices, fourth choices — and sometimes, fifth choices. While I don’t know how almost 10,000 voting members ranked their ballots, here’s what my own best picture Oscar ballot would look like if I were a voter. Click on the movie title for the trailer. 10. Emilia Pérez - directed by Jacques Audiard A crime thriller, a musical, an ode to Mexico and a depiction of a transgender woman, Emilia Pérez falls flat in every metric. Audiard’s bold and audacious approach won’t go unnoticed, but the film is overly directed and sloppily written to the point where he could only demonstrate tension right before the climax by doing a split screen. Pérez, as a character, is written so patronizingly that by the end she’s no longer a human, just a symbol or an icon. While the film has some technical merits — “El Mal” is actually a good sequence — and is anchored by Zoe Saldaña’s incredible performance, it’s overall not an effective story. (Stream it on Netflix) 9. A Complete Unknown - directed by James Mangold A Complete Unknown plays out as mysteriously as its title. Mangold has nothing more to say than that Bob Dylan tossed women away freely and used his talent as an excuse. It’s a constant poke of, “Isn’t he talented? Isn’t he great?” through Dylan’s songwriting, so much so that most of the film is just his songs. So many songs. There’s probably less than half an hour’s worth of dialogue. While the songs are great, the final movie is inarticulate, with a karaoke performance from Timothée Chalamet as Bob Dylan. Monica Barbaro, as Joan Baez, obliterates Chalamet’s Dylan in every scene. The MVP performance goes to Elle Fanning, who silently steals every minute of her limited screen time. (Rent with video-on-demand) 8. Wicked - directed by Jon Chu Wicked is quite an enjoyable, infectious weekend matinee, mainly when Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande are on screen together and during scenes showcasing Jonathan Bailey’s irresistible charm. Yet, Chu’s unwavering commitment to medium shots rarely allows two actors to demonstrate chemistry in one frame. When it goes for wide shots, “One Short Day,” for example, did not showcase body movement and couldn’t find its focal point between crowds, props and set pieces. Sometimes, Wicked takes full advantage of its beautiful production set and costume design, as in “Popular”. Most of the time, it is goofy and too heavy-handed in forcing emotions out of the audience, shown in “Defying Gravity”. So much social commentary and so many character motivations — all as deep as a puddle. (Rent on video-on-demand) 7. Dune: Part Two - directed by Denis Villeneuve Dune: Part Two is ambitious. Its sound mixing, set decorations and visual effects are hallmarks of epic filmmaking. It is also a disappointing antithesis to Villeneuve’s early projects, such as Incendies and Prisoners, which focus on layers of intricate character development. The clearest example of this is when Timothée Chalamet’s character, Paul, meets with the southern Freeman war council to galvanize the crowd. Loud style, little substance. Zendaya is equally as forgettable with a thinly drawn character, especially once Austin Butler — who clearly understands the somewhat silliness of this spectacle and played on that spectrum — appears. (Stream on Netflix, Max) 6. Nickel Boys - directed by RaMell Ross A lot of good things happened in Nickel Boys. The plot. The acting. The careful storytelling. Onto the not-so-good part: the bold first-perspective cinematography, which hinders the plot, the acting and the storytelling. We don’t get to experience the chemistry between characters during heavy-hitting exchanges or the characters’ expressions as they process what is happening to them. Instead, we see the actors acting at us, almost like a video game. In the few fleeting moments where Ross doesn’t stick with the tricky cinematography gimmick, he relies on repeating the narrative from the other’s perspective. Yet, the acting shines through and the thoughtful narrative rarely dims, both testaments to the film’s strengths. There are more good, beautiful moments than bad ones. You should still see it, because of what you need to learn here, to feel here. (Rent on video-on-demand) 5. Anora - directed by Sean Baker Anora is fun and decent. Love the soundtrack. Mikey Madison gives a “star is born” performance as the titular character. It has some explosive moments but dwells on issues from a very surface level and runs a touch too long. Baker’s social curiosity is enough for him to craft a fun film. But under the spotlight, there’s not much to see. His curiosity ends about 20 minutes into the film when Baker gets completely disinterested in telling the story of a sex worker and instead focuses on a screwball comedy. Anora, in the end, never had a true character. Sometimes she’s smart. At times she’s naive. Mostly, the men in this world are written more interestingly than her. (Rent on video-on-demand) 4. I’m Still Here - directed by Walter Salles Salles could’ve easily bogged I’m Still Here down with torture and political drama, considering its subject matter about the military dictatorship in Brazil in the early ’70s. Instead, with Fernanda Torres’ masterful performance, he focuses on home life before and after a mother’s arrest for inquiring about her husband’s abduction by the government. Life still happens, but there is now that underlying tension among family members and also those connected to the Paiva family. Long gone was the busting and lively music and art. Long gone were moments with the blue sky and the beach. What's left is a masterful depiction of how their home becomes a metaphor for what happened in Brazil: People lived there but wouldn’t fully acknowledge what was occurring. (Only in theaters) 3. Conclave - directed by Edward Berger All of Conclave is fiction, but you wouldn’t be able to tell because of how accurate and engaging the dialogue-driven story, costumes and production sets are — down to the wire. The acting is sublime, with Ralph Fiennes almost disappearing into the role. Berger did a wonderful job depicting the drama, gossip, conversations and all of the politics going on behind the scenes of electing a pope. It’s Mean Girls (Pope’s Version). One of the most beautiful movies to look at, and it’s tightly edited to shine a light on many worldwide issues: divisive political views, partisanship, war, the role of women and treatment of genders — all tied together by one huge twist. (Stream on Peacock) 2. The Brutalist - directed by Brady Corbet It’s hard to watch The Brutalist and not get swept away by its technical merits. In every frame, cut and sound bite, Corbet knows exactly what he wants to evoke from the audience and creates a cinematic achievement through his vision from the first frame and score. Even with those calculations, the film never loses a beat in its heartfelt approach to displaying the American Dream in the most brutally honest way imaginable. Its themes of suffering, resilience, resistance and addiction are all intricately woven together through an immigrant’s journey with amazing performances by Adrien Brody and Guy Pearce. (Rent on video-on-demand) 1. The Substance - directed by Coralie Fargeat Bold, audacious and relentless — I’ve raved far too much about The Substance. From a career-best, haunting performance by Demi Moore to the gutsy vision of Fargeat, the movie is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. (Stream on Mubi) @DangHLe news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

Black voices within The Shorthorn newsroom carry individualistic stories. For Black History Month, The Shorthorn staff members step beyond the reporter's notebook to share our journeys and explore what it means to navigate life as Black students while carrying our cultures’ weight and wits. Figures of Black history News reporter Taylor Sansom credits her mother’s grit for balancing three jobs and attending college all while raising her. As a Black woman, she said she resonates with her mother’s drive and sees her as an inspiration. Sansom said when people think about Black history, icons like Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks are ingrained in the minds of many. While these figures played a big role in the Civil Rights Movement, she said there is so much more to Black history. “There are so many other notable people that we should also be focusing our attention on,” Sansom said. “My younger sister, she’s in high school right now, and she had no idea who Emmett Till was because they want to teach parts of history where Black people overcame, but they never want to teach the uncomfortable parts.” Emmett Till was killed at 14 years old by two white store clerks, bringing nationwide attention to the racial violence and injustice prevalent in Mississippi, according to the Library of Congress. Generational divide and identity defined Design editor Haley Walton struggled with her racial identity and being “ostracized” by both Black and white communities. She has received criticism for not speaking “Black enough,” which she said in itself implies how Black people are supposed to sound. Such statements are harmful even to those who are not biracial. “I’ve always had issues with my identity in all different shapes and forms,” said Walton, who is mixed race Black, Swedish and Creole. Walton found that some believe coping mechanisms used in Black culture are deemed meaningless, including the divide between her family on historically negative slurs. She said her family has multiple generations of mixed-raced identities who all share unique perspectives. “It’s just two different generations finding different ways to cope,” Walton said. Illustrator Candys Mena said Black history has shaped her identity as an Afro-Honduran woman through “strength, pride and resilience,” drawing on the history of African Americans in her pursuits. “I have always kept the history of my African American brothers and sisters close at heart," Mena said. “Black History Month is a moment to reflect, respect, celebrate and share what makes us who we are, and I’ll always be proud of that.” Page designer Anayah Darrett said in a statement that both societal beauty standards and racial stereotypes significantly shaped her self identity, allowing her to challenge preconceived notions. “I am just a reserved, young Black woman living life — nothing more than that,” Darrett said. “Especially not an angry one.” Beyond the textbook Graphic designer Jordan Johnson said she hopes for a future where Black history is taught more engagingly and equitably. The current public education system presents Black history in an intangible way, leaving many students without a clear understanding. “History is a living, breathing thing — it is not meant to be passively taught and learned,” Johnson said. She said she spent her childhood in predominantly non-Black communities, so her mother set a strong foundation for Black history growing up by prioritizing her education. “As I’ve gotten older, I’ve taken more initiative to learn on my own,” Johnson said. “My understanding of the true expanse of my history has grown far beyond the 400-year span they try to limit us to.” Celebrating through melody Growing up in a single-parent household, my father defied societal expectations by raising me himself, something you don’t often see in the Black community. The reality is engraved into me. It’s a truth I carry like a weight on my shoulder: I would always have to work 10 times harder than my non-Black peers. The consistent pressure coupled with ever-present shadows of racial bias created self-doubt. Every skill and endeavor I took upon myself was met with the internal question of “Am I good enough?” whispering self hatred and being overwhelmed with societal prejudice. It threatened to silence my voice. Within the complexity of Black history, music has played a huge role in it. I am inspired by the voice of Nina Simone, a singer, pianist and music arranger who used her craft as a weapon for the Civil Rights Movement. Her lyrics, which reflect pain and resilience, illuminate a path for us today. I find inspiration in today’s artists like Doechii, whose rhymes and unapologetic narratives continue that path of Black expression and empowerment. Music within our community is the sound of hope, unity and strength. It’s the heartbeat of Black history and continues to bring unity to the community. Celebrating Black history is more than mere observation. To celebrate means to come together even through the toughest of times and the division of our country or our community. We should always continue to celebrate and preserve what we have historically while also uplifting each other and building beyond our countless years of oppression. @PixaPerfect_ photo-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

From book-themed markets and unique collectibles to thrilling concerts and sound bath experiences, the Dallas-Fort Worth area has something for everyone this week. Entertainment Catch the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship at 6 p.m. Saturday at AT&T Stadium. Tickets start at $44 on Ticketmaster. Join the Bookish Bazaar at Inclusion Coffee for a lineup of local vendors selling book-themed items 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday. Attendees can purchase bookmarks, literary apparel, book art and prints, stationeries and more. Head to the Metroplex Collectibles Show from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the Meadowbrook Recreation Center to browse a variety of collections. The show includes collectibles such as action figures, Funko POPS!, Hot Wheels and statues. Music Celebrate the 50th anniversary of Queen’s first American tour with Bohemian Queen at 8 p.m. Saturday at Arlington Music Hall. The tribute will take attendees through Queen's earliest songs to their well-known hits. Tickets start at $33. Meditation Unwind 7:30 p.m. Thursday during the New Moon Sound Bath at the Hearth Wisdom Store in Pantego. Bringing comfort items like floor pads, pillows blankets, eye covers or any huggable peace-bringing item is recommended for attendees. Tickets are $35. Sports Watch the Dallas Mavericks take on the Charlotte Hornets at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 27 at the American Airlines Center. Tickets start at $17 on Ticketmaster. news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

In the span of two years, downtown Arlington has become a hub for vintage clothing pieces and streetwear. “We’ve been working for a long time at trying to grow this place into a vibrant downtown,” said Maggie Campbell, Downtown Arlington Management Corp. president and CEO. “What we’re seeing in recent months and years is a momentum that is building on itself.” Since 2006 when the organization was created, she said the goal has been to try and make downtown Arlington a college town. Vintage stores flocking to downtown happened organically, and Campbell said she’s excited to see the area welcome more retailers. Commodities In December 2022, co-founders Brandon Avaroa and his wife Ashley Flores opened Commodities, a vintage sneaker store on 200 E. Abram St. Commodities is derived from its full name, The Cultures Commodities, because vintage is a culture in of itself, Avaroa said. “Having the store Commodities locate here, that was one of the first retailers that planted a flag and took a brick-and-mortar here,” Campbell said. “And that sent a signal out to others.” Avaroa said making ends meet as a bartender in Dallas was difficult after shops closed during COVID-19. Selling sneakers became a necessity, so he started watching YouTube videos to learn how to enter the reselling business. He began selling on Facebook Marketplace and OfferUp, soon attending major sneaker conventions. “People go to those conventions to buy, sell, trade, and that’s exactly what I did,” Avaroa said. He noticed a lot of vintage traction in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, but Arlington was always overlooked. Being born and raised here, Flores’ history made it easy for the pair to “marry” the city, Avaroa said. After seeing the vacant space on Abram Street, they decided to take the opportunity to open their first storefront. Avaroa said he always wanted a location in a centralized area to feel like a destination. Multiple restaurants already lined the strip, so this allowed them to bring a retail opportunity to the area. From stickers to one-of-a-kind shoes, the shop offers something for everyone, Avaroa said. He most enjoys offering local brands and giving local artists opportunities to thrive. “People are just looking for something that identifies them, something that allows them to express themselves,” he said. Whether it’s sneakers or streetwear, Avaroa said he ensures that what he sells is unique and nostalgic. Stash VHS In November 2024, CEO Angel Espinoza opened his vintage thrift store Stash VHS a block from Commodities. Before placing roots in downtown Arlington, Espinoza sold his vintage pieces to make extra money while working all week at General Motors. Espinoza realized he wanted to take his business to the next level and begin selling at shows and conventions. Avaroa said Espinoza and Flores went to school together, so when he saw Avaroa selling shoes, he reached out. “After that I remember him saying, ‘I don’t know if sneakers are my route, but definitely vintage is,’” he said. “And that’s where he’s stuck to.” Espinoza said before he started his business, he kept to himself and would spend his time either at work or selling clothes online from his room. He was limited to hosting events at Traders Village in Grand Prairie on weekends. Eventually, he wanted to push himself and his brand out. “Our goal is ultimately to have a hangout hub,” Espinoza said. “It’s not even so much about vintage. It’s more about building relationships and connections.” A big part of vintage culture is the history behind the clothes, he said. He picks pieces that speak to him and caters to his audience. Price is based on an item’s rarity, but overall, his pieces range from $20 to $30. While being next to two other vintage stores invites friendly competition, it provides options for customers. If his store doesn’t have what someone needs, he points them in the right direction. Deep Dive Vintage Store manager Estephanny Jimenez said Deep Dive Vintage opened its doors over a month ago, sandwiched between Commodities and Stash VHS. Owner Lauren Ballentine started the company by selling clothes online right after high school in 2020. “Things got crazy, and here we are,” Jimenez said. Before working for Deep Dive Vintage, Jimenez was a regular shopper there. She said she has seen the store through its phases, always feeling welcomed and a sense of community. Their goal is to curate and give customers what they want, she said. Shoppers are always in the back of their minds, and Jimenez said there are times they pick a piece they know a regular would love. “Our vibe is all the way back to the 1930s to Y2K, so we’re really trend inclusive,” Jimenez said. The vintage shop used to be located in Hurst for around four years. “We obviously loved it and it was great as it was, but we outgrew it. It was time for a change,” she said. Being right next to UTA, Jimenez said they knew moving to Arlington would bring in foot traffic. One of their biggest focuses is sustainability, ensuring clothes are mended and handled with care, Jimenez said. Clothes range from $18 to $27, excluding their gowns and true vintage options. She said they try to keep prices as affordable as possible so customers can have unique pieces for a doable price. “I was a student and I remember that being very difficult for me. I had to feed myself but I also wanted to feel good, look good,” Jimenez said. “I feel like that’s huge here in Arlington just because we want everybody to feel like themselves and good. And it’s hard when you’re a student.” @amandaLaldridge news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu