Architecture in Fort Worth
The Original Mexican Eats Café located at 4713 Camp Bowie Blvd., the oldest eatery in Cowtown, will soon consolidate to its second location at 1400 N. Main Street, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. That means, baring any last minute deals, this week is the last week patrons can enjoy a piece of Fort Worth food history.
Much like the boy who cried wolf, this is the second time an announcement has been made about the imminent closing of this iconic Fort Worth eatery’s first locale.
Back in February, the Original’s owner, Robert Self confirmed in a statement that the 93-year-old restaurant was indeed relocating to it second location in the North Side of town. Just a month later, reports confirmed that the Original, which was just mere days away from closing its doors for good, had entered into a lease extension.
The restaurant had planned to close because of a lease dispute between Self and building owner Joe Frank Muzquiz. The two had been at odds over the lease signed in 2003 by Muzquiz’s mother, Leticia Grimaldo, who, at the time, owned the Arlington Heights strip mall where The Original is a tenant.
After Grimaldo passed away in 2014, Muzquiz inherited the property. Muzquiz claims that while his mother’s original lease may have been acceptable in 2003, it no longer is today. Citing costs associated with property taxes, roof replacement, and parking lot improvements, costs Muzquiz is responsible for, he says he may be relegated to a property that could cost him more to maintain than it generates in revenue, according to the El Paso state appeals court.
Self, planned to simply consolidate operations of the Camp Bowie location with the recent opening of The Original del Norte, housed in the former home of El Rancho Grande on the North Side. Since then, the new Original restaurant has been updated and redecorated. The dining room features a giant neon “lucha libre” wresting mask and other artwork and neon signs will make their way from the old location.
As for the menu, the Star-Telegram reports that many of the same dishes from the Camp Bowie location will still be available at the North Side Original, which includes the Roosevelt Special.
“We cherish the five generations of loyal customers who have supported us through many decades, and we thank them for loving out enchiladas, tacos, tostadas, Margaritas, and laid-back ambience,” Self wrote in a statement in February. “We recognize and regret that this is the end of an era for Fort Worth’s West Side. The Original is dedicated to carrying on the atmosphere and traditions at the North Main Street location. All employees will be offered jobs there.”
