‘Time to start changing it up.’ Berry Street businesses eager for TCU development
West Berry Street business owners and managers are excited by the possibilities of TCU’s planned development, and hope the changes will transform the corridor into a vibrant destination.
TCU plans to develop seven blocks along West Berry Street between University Drive and McCart Avenue.
New uses for the TCU-owned swath of land have been considered for years. A 2016 development plan for what is now the Berry/University Urban Village designates the character of all seven blocks as “institutional mixed use,” a category for university-related buildings.
Plans for the first part of the project, a 5.2 acre mixed-use development, were revealed in city filings.
The new development will include a six-story mixed-use building, seven-story mixed-use building, a parking garage and a two-story retail building near the TCU campus store. Parking lots sit on the land slated for development, near West Berry and South University Drive.
Kay Greenlee, the managing partner of Dutch’s Hamburgers and Dutch’s Burrito Bar, at 3009 and 3005 S. University Drive, expects new development to bring more awareness to the area. She also said it may improve safety by keeping students closer to campus.
“I think it’s going to be a positive thing. I’m most excited about trying to keep those kids off Seventh Street,” Greenlee said.
Greenlee said she’s enjoyed watching the university grow over the years.
“TCU deserves it, they’re a great college,” Greenlee said.
All of the businesses near West Berry Street the Star-Telegram spoke with said they have good relationships with the university, and that TCU is very communicative.
Greenlee said construction on University Drive, along with traditionally sparser summer crowds, has significantly impacted business. She’s confident sales will rebound as students return to campus.
Down the street at Báhn Shop Fort Worth, 3051 S. University Drive, manager Angel Rico echoed Greenlee’s sentiments about construction. He said new development, and the parking that would accompany it, could be a game-changer for small businesses.
“If done right, I feel like it would benefit a lot of these smaller brands, a lot of these smaller stores, like these mom and pop shops, ” Rico said.
Many business people believe the proposed parking garage could benefit their businesses. The only existing garage on West Berry Street near the TCU campus is primarily for residents of the GrandMarc at Westberry Place apartments.
Numerous parking lots sit behind businesses on South University Drive near the intersection of West Berry Street, but few spaces are available for those without a university parking pass.
Of the University Drive businesses, Dutch’s has the largest parking lot by far. Still, there are only about 35 parking spaces available for patrons of four storefronts— Dutch’s Hamburgers, Dutch’s Burrito Bar, Buffalo Bros and The Pub.
Businesses off of West Berry Street also tend to have small parking lots shared with other storefronts.
Tommy Brackett, general manager at Jon’s Grille, 2905 W. Berry St., said additional parking for students could open up more spaces for residents and visitors.
“It should be good for business, to be honest with you, because more people have a place to park, it’s closer to places they want to go eat and drink and everything like that,” Brackett said.
Jon’s Grille chose its West Berry location because of the strong community and the number of families and groups who visit TCU for large on-campus events.
Brackett said at the beginning of summer, TCU gave Jon’s Grille a list of events happening on campus so they knew when to expect larger crowds.
TCU has grown significantly over the past few years, enrolling record numbers of students: 12,785 students were enrolled for the fall 2023 semester, an almost 29% increase from fall 2013 enrollment.
Stewart Hellman, the manager at King’s Liquor, 2810 W. Berry St., said growing numbers of TCU students have been great for business.
King’s provides TCU with liquor for Amon G. Carter Stadium. Football games and tailgating events also bring in significant crowds.
Hellman said King’s will probably be gone by the time TCU begins work on the four blocks east of the GrandMarc apartments. King’s leases from TCU; Hellman said there are about three years left on the liquor store’s lease.
Iromy Ruiz, the general manager at Fuzzy’s Taco Shop, 2917 W. Berry St., said increased enrollment at TCU has boosted sales, especially on football game days. He thinks West Berry Street is more than ready for new development.
“I like how it’s like an old-school feel around here, but I think it’s time to start changing it up a little,” Ruiz said.
