The Rig Steakhouse in Fort Worth closing after 36 years

One of Fort Worth’s oldest restaurants will close Saturday, and one of Arlington’s newest has closed.

The Rig Steakhouse, an inexpensive Western steak restaurant and karaoke saloon open 36 years and known for its drilling-rig sign on Interstate 35W, will close Saturday, employees said.

The restaurant property has been listed for sale, including the sign.

The Rig specialized in $15 T-bone or strip steak dinners.

It was built in 1980, according to Tarrant Appraisal District records. According to Star-Telegram archives, it was a new location and expansion for nearby Manson’s Steak House, which had opened in 1973.

The restaurant will serve until 10 p.m. Saturday or until food runs out, employees said Friday. The bar will remain open until 2 a.m.

When the Rig was built, a Howard Johnson Motor Hotel was across Interstate 35W and the old U.S. 81 pavement, now Old Hemphill Road, lay behind the restaurant.

The restaurant’s visibility was hindered when the Interstate 20 interchange was rebuilt, but it remained popular as both a steakhouse and bar.

In Arlington, the first Super Chix sandwich restaurant closed on West Park Row Drive.

The restaurant was founded by Yum! Brands as a challenger to Chick-fil-A, but was sold to originator Nick Ouimet. A Dallas location remains open and locations are expected in Frisco and Richardson.

The closing was originally reported by the Arlington High School AHS Colt school newspaper.

This story was originally published April 29, 2016 at 6:13 PM with the headline "The Rig Steakhouse in Fort Worth closing after 36 years."