Union Jack owner and ‘Godfather of Cedar Springs’ Richard Longstaff has died
FILE PHOTO: Owner Richard Longstaff at Union Jack. (DV) Dallas Voice recieved word on Friday that Richard Longstaff, the former owner of the retail store Union Jack that was on Cedar Springs, has passed.
He died Friday morning in a hospital stay in Pompano Beach, Florida where he lived. He was 84. Longtime friend Jay Landry said “He was a great guy and wonderful friend.” According to Landry, Longstaff suffered from severe arthritis and was having complications from intense back pain. “I think he sort of gave in to it,” Landry said.
Born in Cambridge, England, Longstaff found his way to Dallas and opened the clothing shop Union Jack which was open for more than 40 years before closing in 2014.
He later retired to Florida. In the early 1970s, Cedar Springs wasn’t the gay asphalt ribbon that had taken its place in the gay lexicon, along with Westheimer Road in Houston.
