Cat City Grill restaurant closing on Near Southside in Fort Worth
Cat City Grill, which opened in 2010 as a steakhouse and bar amid a restaurant boom on West Magnolia Avenue, will close Sept. 28, co-owner Martin Thompson said.
“Obviously the industry has changed,” Thompson said, citing the price of beef as a particular challenge for small, independent restaurants.
Thompson originally opened Cat City — a play on Fort Worth’s “Panther City” nickname — as a partner with Magnolia restaurateur Vance Martin. He sold his share early and Thompson quickly became the sole owner.
Vance Martin retired May 31 and closed his restaurant, Lili’s Bistro.
“Closing was not an easy choice,” Denise and Martin Thompson wrote in a Facebook post, “but it is the right time for us to turn the page.
“ . . . From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for making these past 15 years possible. We look forward to sharing one last meal, one last toast, and one last smile with you before September 28th.”
The restaurant business has changed around Cat City, open for lunch and dinner weekdays, brunch and dinner Saturdays and brunch Sundays at 1208 W. Magnolia Ave.
For one thing, money is tight.
“It’s all very casual now — burgers, mediocre food,” Thompson said.
“People either go to a really casual restaurant, or they splurge and go to a really expensive one.”
Cat City opened as a steakhouse known for Thompson’s background at Del Frisco’s.
But diners’ favorite dishes are consistently the chicken-fried steak and meat loaf, he said, and Cat City now sells more chicken and seafood than steaks.
The restaurant is also known for a busy Sunday brunch serving bloody marys and dishes such as cinnamon French toast and crab Benedict.
Magnolia, a Near Southside redevelopment project, has gone through a generational change at restaurants in recent months.
King Tut Mediterranean, a 32-year anchor, moved to West Rosedale Street.
Maiden, a fine-dining vegan restaurant just off Magnolia, closed along with a plant-based burger grill, Vice Burger. Paco’s Mexican Cuisine changed format to Shōgun Taqueria, a fusion restaurant.
But prominent new restaurants opened, including Walloon’s, a New Orleans-style seafood restaurant and bar; Ko Thai, a Thai restaurant and bar; Cafecito, a very popular interior-Mexico brunch restaurant; Pie Tap Pizza Workshop, which also serves a busy brunch; and highly rated Gustos Burger Bar.
Teddy Wong’s Dumplings and Wine, one of the city’s busiest restaurants, is only two blocks off Magnolia.
Cat City Grill will be open regular hours through the end of brunch Sept. 28, Thompson said; 817-916-5333, catcitygrill.com.
This story was originally published September 2, 2025 at 4:40 AM.
