Founder of popular Fort Worth hamburger chain has died
Tommy Smith, who opened a gas station grill in 1983 and built it into the popular Tommy’s Hamburgers restaurants, has died, Tommy’s owner Kelly Smith wrote Monday.
The original Tommy’s Mini Mart in Lake Worth eventually moved to Interstate 30 and then to Camp Bowie Boulevard. Daughter Kelly Smith took over in 2007 and has expanded Tommy’s to today’s three restaurants.
“He gave me wonderful gifts,” Kelly Smith wrote in a Facebook post. “He taught me to always believe in myself, help others by giving back to our community, work hard and always treat others with kindness and respect.”
When Glenda and Tommy Smith first took over the Mini Mart, 7028 Navajo Trail, they used a portable pancake griddle to grill up half-pound cheeseburgers such as the loaded “Trailer Burger.”
Tommy’s was among the first Fort Worth restaurants to challenge the dominance of nationally ranked rival Kincaid’s Hamburgers.
In 1987, it was ranked one of the Star-Telegram’s “Ten Best” in Tarrant County.
Tommy’s has added locations at 1736 Mall Circle off Alta Mere Drive and also at 2455 Forest Park Blvd.
The oldest Tommy’s, now at 5228 Camp Bowie Blvd., is under repair after a recent fire.
Services are pending at Greenwood Funeral Home.
This story was originally published July 29, 2025 at 5:32 AM.
