Wester - Lubbock, TX

The neighborhood takes its name from J.K. Wester, a school superintendent who worked in the early part of the 20th century. Its single-story ranch-style homes tell the story of Lubbock's expansion in the 1960s and 1970s as the city steadily grew with the success of agriculture-related businesses.

Ballet Lubbock Dance School has its home just west of Wester, outside the loop, and the Hub Performing Arts School lies to Wester's east. You won’t find any museums in the immediate neighborhood, though the central museums and performance spaces of downtown are close enough, along with the sites of Lubbock’s main festivals. Wester Elementary hosts an annual fall festival, complete with bake sale and hot air balloon rides.

For the best dining options, residents make way to the southeast part of Wester. Most restaurants can be found along Slide Road and 50th Street just outside the neighborhood. This is actually one of the biggest central restaurant hubs in Lubbock. You’ll find a wide array of the usual chains, but there are also some local gems that shouldn’t be missed.

For example, there’s 50th Street Caboose. Grownups can enjoy their quality margaritas while the kids play in an arcade that includes over 100 games. Back in the 1970s, 50th Street Caboose was the first restaurant to serve up fajitas in Lubbock, and locals still swear by them today. The restaurant offers specials on kids’ meals and game packages.

The East Moon Restaurant menu centers around Thai, Vietnamese and sushi. The large selection makes it ideal for ordering out -- they'll have anything you want. The décor and food options might be somewhat standard, but East Moon is definitely a step up from the area’s blander Asian chains.

Seoul Korean Cuisine may just be the only dedicated Korean restaurant within a hundred miles, and it's well worth the visit. Kimchi pancakes are a must here. Its location in a nondescript building in a commercial district characterized by many empty businesses might make it easy to miss, but keep looking and you won’t regret it. The menu features good photos so you can see what you're ordering, and the staff is friendly and helpful.

Some of Lubbock's most popular nightclubs can be found just south of Wester. The Gas Light features live music on the weekends and keeps a cozy atmosphere without ever feeling crowded. It’s a nice change from the more standard sports bars and dives that are so easy to find in Lubbock. With its focus on cocktails, it may seem just a bit upscale, but the Gas Light isn’t too fancy. Order a cocktail, sit on the deck, and enjoy the view of Playa Lake. The Silver Bullet Club is more relaxed with karaoke, a good jukebox and cheap cold beer served in 32-ounce frosty mugs. Further up north on Slide Road, you'll find The Lantern Tavern, a warm and inviting pub with good food and drink. This is the perfect place for locals to drop in after work. Not all places in Lubbock have banned smoking yet, but the Lantern doesn't allow it, making it a nice alternative to smokier establishments.

Buses, cabs and Uber can all be found in Wester, where you also have very easy access to highways and the 289 Loop. The quiet neighborhoods very walkable and bicycle friendly. You won’t see marked bike lanes in the area, but it’s a relatively safe place to ride. Free public parking is easy to find.

In the heart of Wester you’ll find C.W. Ratliff Park. This kid-friendly space includes playgrounds, picnic areas, shady groves and tennis courts. Buster Long Park and Dupree Park south of Wester are small green spaces dominated by small lakes. These are good places to stay cool during the summer. Visitors to Dupree can enjoy the tennis courts and a playground. Dogs are welcome, though there are no dedicated dog parks in the area.

Bill McAlister Park, just west of Wester, is among Lubbock's largest. It includes a skate park, baseball fields, disc golf, a BMX track and running trails. The park also hosts a number of annual running events.

Residents of Wester enjoy a cost of living slightly below the Lubbock average, and the cost of gas in the area is a remarkable 17 percent lower than the national average. One-way bus fare will set you back $1.75, and a day pass is $3.50. A one-bedroom residence rents for around $699 a month. Beer can cost as much as $3, but specials for a five beer bucket run around $8 to $10.

There are plenty of shopping options in Wester, mainly around the highways and the intersection of Slide Rd and 50th Street. Most stores are of the dollar variety or otherwise focus on necessities, but there are some more interesting finds a short distance away.

Mountain Hideaway is one of the best outdoor outfitters around. It sells everything you need for camping, fishing, and climbing, from clothes to shoes to gear, and the Mountain Hideaway staff have a well-deserved reputation for being helpful and knowledgeable. Sharp Shooters Knife and Gun also boasts a wide selection of firearms and a dedicated client base.

At Wester's northern edge, you’ll find RC Custom Boots. RC stands for Ruben Cobos, who started making boots at the age of 18 in 1962. His handmade creations are beloved by real cowboys and include a wide range of styles for men, women, children and even babies.

You’ll have to take a short drive out of Wester for groceries. Sam's Club lies just north of the freeway. Pantry Foodstore and United Supermarkets are both five minutes away. There are also a few Asian food markets close by and an Indian grocer, the Gandhi Bazar, all just five minutes east by car. There’s a weekly farmers market in downtown Lubbock, only 15 minutes away.