Jack Carl's original postcard courtesy of Antique Warehouse
Sometimes, the soul cries out for corned beef. At such times, a good delicatessen is a fine thing indeed. That was Jack Carl’s 2¢ Plain. It wasn’t a kosher delicatessen, but it thrived. From its beginnings in Gaslight Square—where it provided a place for casual meals amid music clubs and high-end restaurants—to its years as a stalwart lunch spot downtown, it produced immense sandwiches and frequent lip from its owner. The banter increased geometrically after the move, when Carl had a steady stream of worthy opponents, often attorneys from the nearby courthouses.
Even before the move, the place drew interesting customers. Jada, who was the headliner at Jack Ruby’s Dallas nightclub when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, was having lunch at the deli with a publicist on the day that Ruby died. She left a signed photograph for Jack Carl. Today, it resides alongside other Gaslight Square memorabilia at West End Grill & Pub.
