A popular Clearfork restaurant closes. Also, there’s a mystery at the Clown
A “bistro, bocce and bowling” restaurant known for its brunch closed in Fort Worth on Monday, and a 66-year Haltom City hamburger landmark took a sudden break as upheaval continued among local restaurants.
Pinstripes, 5001 Trailhead Bend Way in the Shops at Clearfork, closed after seven years in the busy shopping center in southwest Fort Worth.
Clown Burger, an iconic Haltom City hamburger grill known for serving the same thin-style burgers since it opened in 1959, announced in mid-evening that co-owners Willis and Matthew Odell need a few days off to “get caught up.”
Ealrlier in the evening, part-owner Renee Medford posted in a Haltom City Facebook group that one of her business partners had seized the landmark restaurant, 5010 Stanley Keller Road.
Pinstripes, an Illinois-based restaurant, apparently closed several locations nationwide Monday as the company goes through Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization.
Eight Pinstripes locations remain, according to the website. That’s down from 18.
The entertainment venue was known for its Sunday and holiday brunch buffet. It becomes the first long-standing restaurant anchor to close in the Shops at Clearfork, although some concepts have been short-lived.
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In Haltom City, Medford had been the most prominent partner in Clown Burger since Odell bought the restaurant two years ago from the founding Louthan family, which started it in 1959 nearby at 5512 E. Belknap St.
The small neighborhood restaurant near Haltom Road is known for old-time, thin-patty burgers, often stacked as a double or triple cheeseburger and served with the original hot dogs and fries.
“As you know, we have had difficult challenges the last few months,” Medford wrote, describing the dispute as “an unfortunate act between two business owners.”
She added: “I will be back so look for me NOT sure where.”
Odell wrote in an online message that “we will get it back going.” He said he also plans to reopen the 43-yeer-old Haltom Chinese Restaurant, 4616 Denton Highway.
The shakeups are the latest at a time when restaurants are squeezed between a labor shortage, rising food prices and a loss of customers as diners cut back on spending.
In Fort Worth, Cat City Grill, a steakhouse and bar, will close Sept. 28 at 1208 W. Magnolia Ave.
The closing was one of several in the Near Southside neighborhood, including Lili’s Bistro; Maiden, a fine-dining vegan restaurant; Vice Burger, a plant-based burger grill; and Brix Barbecue, a Texas Monthly state honorable-mention “best” on South Main Street.
Lockwood Distilling, a tasting room, also announced that it is moving from Magnolia Avenue to Garland.
The Lubbock-based Abuelo’s restaurants filed last week for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Three area locations remain open in Fort Worth, Arlington and Hurst.
Green’s Texas BBQ, a Euless food trailer that is the last remnant of the Green family’s award-winning North Main BBQ restaurant, will close Dec. 6 at 414 W. Euless Blvd.
This story was originally published September 9, 2025 at 4:54 AM.
