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Restaurant, shop, bars reopen after Sandman hotel explosion in downtown Fort Worth

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Full Coverage: Fort Worth Hotel Explosion

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A small burger grill and Thai cafe will reopen Jan. 16 along with an ice cream-coffee shop, and four nearby bars have already reopened after the devastating Jan. 8 explosion that shut down businesses around the Sandman Signature Hotel.

J’s Burgers N’ More, a popular 35-year downtown stop for inexpensive burgers, breakfasts and Thai lunches, was undamaged. But businesses around the hotel could not open all week in what fire marshals called a dangerous “hot zone” around the apparent gas explosion.

At least 21 people were injured, one critically, in the blast that wrecked the basement and first two floors of the Sandman, in the 104-year-old W.T. Waggoner Building, 810 Houston St.

J’s Burgers N’ More owner Dee Chirabandhu met with gas company workers Friday, she said. Her restaurant, 905 Throckmorton St., was undamaged.

La’Creamian, a premium ice cream-coffee shop at 215 W. Eighth St., also will reopen Jan. 16 after restocking, owner Lisa Jackson said.

J’s Burgers N’ More is a downtown breakfast-burgers and Thai food cafe.
J’s Burgers N’ More is a downtown breakfast-burgers and Thai food cafe. Facebook.com

La’Creamian’s only damage was an out-of-place ceiling tile, Jackson said. But the 8-month-old shop lost its entire inventory of premium ice creams such as rum raisin or butterscotch and had to make new batches.

Four bars already reopened, according to social media:

Thompson’s Bookstore, 900 Houston St., reopened Friday. Some repairs remain to boarded windows.

Winchester Tavern, downstairs at 903 Throckmorton St., resumed business Friday.

The Archibald Bar, 902 Houston St., reopened.

Basic Bar, 904 Houston St., reopened Thursday.

La’Creamian is a premium ice cream and coffee shop on West Eighth Street.
La’Creamian is a premium ice cream and coffee shop on West Eighth Street. Courtesy photo

This story was originally published January 13, 2024 at 5:30 AM.

Bud Kennedy’s Eats Beat
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Bud Kennedy is celebrating his 40th year writing about restaurants in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. He has written the “Eats Beat” dining column in print since 1985 and online since 1992 — that’s more than 3,000 columns about Texas cafes, barbecue, burgers and where to eat. Support my work with a digital subscription
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Full Coverage: Fort Worth Hotel Explosion

Find the latest stories on the Sandman hotel explosion in downtown Fort Worth.