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Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, several establishments in downtown Fort Worth have been forced to relocate or close completely.
In 2020, some businesses cited less foot traffic, which brought fewer customers to downtown, as a challenge. Other restaurants and stores found having a downtown location less profitable or struggled to work out a lease agreement.
Here are some of the businesses that have closed in and around downtown Fort Worth since the start of the pandemic, those that plan to relocate from the area and others that are opening to take their place.
[More: How often do you visit downtown Fort Worth? Share why you visit, or don’t, in our poll]
Reata Restaurant — relocating
In a press conference March 30, Reata owner Mike Micallef said the restaurant has been unable to work out a new lease and faces moving out of its Sundance Square location.
Reata originally opened in 1996 in the 35th-floor penthouse of The Tower, wrecked in the March 2000 downtown tornado, before moving to the former Caravan of Dreams jazz nightclub and theater at 310 Houston St.
[More: Reata restaurant faces move in Fort Worth, leaving Sundance Square and maybe downtown]
[More: There’s a push to keep Reata downtown, but diners will follow regardless, advocates say]
Arcadia Coffee — location closure
Arcadia Coffee announced the closure of its Sundance Square location in a social media post March 27. The location opened in November 2021. In the post, the business said, “Sometimes as businesses we take gambles in hopes the payoff will be great. And sometimes those gambles do not pay off, and the loss is greater. Unfortunately our Sundance Square location was one that just didn’t pay off.” Arcadia Coffee’s location at 326 Bryan Ave. is still open.
Black Cat Pizza — closed
After opening its South Main Street location in May 2019, Black Cat Pizza officially closed in March. In a social media post, the restaurant’s owners said, “The challenges that the last two years have brought small businesses have brought us to the point where we had to make this decision. And we choose family, our two young kids, our mental and emotional health, and after 3 years, finally some rest.”
Five Guys Burgers & Fries — closed
Five Guys Burgers & Fries closed its doors earlier this year; its location at 313 Houston St. was no longer listed on the company’s website by the middle of February. Five Guys opened in Sundance Square in 2012. The Star-Telegram previously reported the Sundance location rarely made “best burger” ratings and was ranked below a nearby location of Dallas-based Chop House Burger and a Main Street location of Dallas-based Jake’s Burgers.
[More: Another vacancy in Sundance Square: A downtown Fort Worth burger grill is closed]
H&M — closed
After opening its doors in 2016, clothing retailer H&M closed in December 2021. Since its closing, the downtown location has been removed from the store’s online list of retailers and the building remains vacant.
Taco Diner — closed
The contemporary Mexico City-style restaurant Taco Diner closed its Sundance Square Plaza location in December 2020. It was the last of the three Taco Diner restaurants in Tarrant County.
[More: Another Sundance Square restaurant closing in downtown Fort Worth]
Uno Pizzeria & Grill — closed
In late August 2020, Uno Pizzeria & Grill closed, ending its 28-year run at its 300 Houston St. downtown location. A Facebook post shared by the restaurant Aug. 30 said, “Ugh! This has been a tough year! We are closed! It’ll take a miracle to reopen ... Anybody have a spare miracle??!”
[More: Another Sundance Square Fort Worth restaurant closes, and this was an old-timer]
Taverna — closed
In July 2020, Taverna became another name in a list of downtown restaurants that closed in the beginning months of the pandemic. At the time, a Taverna manager said Dallas-based Lombardi Family Concepts would look for another location for the risotteria and pizzeria, which opened at 450 Throckmorton St. in 2006.
[More: Another Sundance Square restaurant closes, third to go dark in downtown Fort Worth]
Cantina Laredo — closed
Sundance Square anchor Cantina Laredo closed in June 2020. The restaurant was located in The Tower at 530 Throckmorton St.
[More: Mexican restaurant in downtown Fort Worth closes; West 7th brewpub up for sale]
Bird Cafe — closed
Bird Cafe closed its Sundance Square location at 155 E. Fourth St. in May 2020 after seeing a decline in customers due to reduced foot traffic downtown at the start of the pandemic.
[More: Farewell to Bird Café, closing Friday: a Cowtown restaurant with an artist’s soul]
3rd Street Market — opening
A bakery-cafe and market will open in Sundance Square, bringing fresh-baked sourdough to a corner formerly known as a sports bar.
3rd Street Market has begun construction at 425 W. Third St., across from the soon-to-be-sold downtown public library on the western edge of Sundance. Former Cafe Modern chef Dena Peterson Shaskan and bread-maker Trent Shaskan of Icon Bread are part of the new venture, which will offer breakfast, lunch and evening wines and charcuterie.
The U-shaped bar of the former Frankie’s will become a sourdough bar, Trent Shaskan said, where customers can watch the bread-making and hang out to dine.
The project is part of Sundance’s ongoing makeover to emphasize unique and local restaurants in the 40-year-old development.
[More: A new bakery-cafe with a ‘sourdough bread bar’ will open in downtown Fort Worth]
Le Méridien — opening
At 815 Commerce St., the new Le Méridien hotel will include a European-themed restaurant, a rooftop bar, a streetside Italian cafe serving Trieste-based illy brand coffee, and a gelato stand.
“The Le Méridien will be something special for Fort Worth,” said Richard Garcia, food and beverage chief for the Dallas-based owners, Remington Hotels.
The restaurant will include outdoor seating along Eighth or Commerce streets, he said.
[More: Le Méridien hotel in Fort Worth brings European theme, gelato and illy Italian coffee]
61 Osteria — opening
The team behind Grace and Little Red Wasp will open a new Italian restaurant in the First on 7th tower, 500 W. Seventh St.
Chef Blaine Staniford and operator Adam Jones will create 61 Osteria, a midcentury modern restaurant, in the 1961-vintage former bank tower, Jones said. It will serve dinner, lunch, brunch and happy hour for workers and residents on the west side of downtown facing Burnett Park and the “Man With Briefcase” sculpture by Jonathan Borofsky.
Jones first came to Fort Worth in the 1980s, operating an Italian restaurant in Sundance Square. He had originally considered opening Grace in the First on 7th lobby facing Burnett Park before settling at 777 Main St., he said.
The restaurant is scheduled to open late in 2022.
[More: 16 new restaurants from top chefs in Fort Worth: Coming in 2022]
This story was originally published March 30, 2022 at 5:32 PM.
