The Trade Mart was the destination of United States President John F. Kennedy 's motorcade on November 22 , 1963 when he was assassinated in Dealey Plaza . He was scheduled to give a speech to 2,600 people at a sold-out luncheon in the Grand Courtyard . Notable guests awaiting Kennedy 's arrival included Market Center partners Trammell Crow and John Stemmons ; United States Senator Ralph Yarborough ; J. Erik Jonsson , one of the owners of Texas Instruments ; and Dallas Mayor Earle Cabell . Special dispensation had been arranged to allow the Catholics to eat the planned steak main course at the luncheon
assassinated
Assassination of John F. Kennedy
Dallas Market Center