by Gregory James
Locust Cider
A renaissance is happening in the South Main Village; a reimagining of the area by local visionaries has transformed what was dormant to desirable. The stretch of road is a completely different place from what it once was, but it remains unmistakably Fort Worth.
Long gone are the days when your only option for food on South Main was Jesus BBQ. Thankfully, you can still grab a cheap and delicious bite of comfort food at Jesus BBQ. But now you can follow it up with a latte from three nearby coffee shops that include CRUDE Craft Coffee Bar, Roots Coffeehouse, or Summer Moon Coffee. Then you can swing by Game Theory, Fort Worth’s first and only gaming lounge that allows for connection and cocktails while playing board games.
More recently (and as Malcolm Mayhew covers on page 52) Tinie’s, a new eatery from Taco Heads’ Sarah Castillo and partners Christian Lehrmann and Glen Keely, opened after enduring several years of construction issues. The dining space evokes the rustic elegance of long-established eateries in Buenos Aires, yet the beautiful rooftop view of the Fort Worth skyline brings the experience back home in a welcome way.
Rahr & Sons Brewing Company opened up in the area in the early 2000s as a pioneer of the Near Southside and as Fort Worth’s only local brewery. Now, because of the next wave of pioneers, within just a few blocks of Rahr, you can walk to HopFusion Ale Works, Locust Cider, or Funky Picnic Brewery & Café. On any given weekend, all these breweries teem with people enjoying locally crafted brews. Fort Worth’s thirst for craft brews extends to the ever-popular gastropub, The Bearded Lady, which relocated from Magnolia Avenue last summer and serves up a large selection of local beers. The newly opened Southside Cellar provides a growler filling station, a tasting room with over 40 taps, as well as beer and wine to go.
A stroll down South Main Street reveals Fort Worth’s spirit of entrepreneurship in action. Places like Alchemy Pops, Hot Box Biscuit Club, Coco Shrimp, and Black Cat Pizza began as plucky pop-ups and have grown enough so that they now occupy permanent spots in the area. Just a few blocks away, two Airstreams add a cool caché and a space to enjoy beignets from The Dusty Biscuit and craft barbecue from Brix.
Wishbone & Flynt’s much-lauded opening (you can read Scott Nishimura’s review on page 58) adds to the casually upscale dining options that up until now only included Cannon Chinese Kitchen. The speakeasy attached to the restaurant adds to the allure and appeal of the space which on a recent Saturday night was packed by 8 p.m. New announcements for this area continue to happen at a head-spinning space. Tarantula Tiki Lounge, a themed cocktail bar, and Tulips, a new live music venue, present just a few of the notable openings to look forward to.
The undeniable energy in this area was unimaginable just a few years ago. A new destination district is forming right before our eyes. The charming reuse of spaces that were once rough around the edges and the passion of those that occupy them mean you will find lots of soul on South Main.
