The Matchcover Storyteller

For the purpose here, The Olla Podidra is a place, but the phrase’s 17th century origin invokes its 20th century existence. 

Let’s start with this 40-strike front strike matchcover from Atlas.  It’s for what was basically a mall with a difference  in north Dallas, Texas.

The Olla Podidra opened in 1971-72 in a huge renovated barn-like warehouse.   Inside were as many as 88 specialty shops for artisans, crafts people, makers, antiquers and even classrooms.  There were even live puppet shows!   In its day, it is said to have generated some of the highest sales per square foot of any place in the area..

The Olla Podidra closed in 1996 and has since been demolished.  One article cites improving accessibility rules as the reason; the Olla Podidra could not be adapted and the disabled were pretty implacable about it  — that’s one story.  It may be partially true; the rising value of the land was a factor and apparently so was the very high cost of renovating the structure including meeting those changing requirements.

The Olla Podidra  —  what an interesting name!  It’s Spanish, for “Rotten Pot”   it’s a hearty dish of multiple legumes and meats.  It became popular in Spain’s Golden Age when famously mentioned in 1655,s Don Quixote;  Sancho Panza looks forward to it at the Inn At The Crossroads.   The word “rotten” also really only refers to meat so tender it’s falling off the bone, and the whole thing has come to be referred to as a  hodge-podge  —  and so a most appropriate name for this quirky and eclectic Dallas marketplace!