“I see you over there…”
A booming voice greets you as you enter the whimsical landing space on 5th Street in Downtown Fort Worth near Sundance Square. The nostalgic Zoltar machine, a less than subtle nod to Tom Hanks’s Big, and glowing neon advertising a fortune teller are the only two street-level clues as to what lies below in the aptly nicknamed “FunkyTown Underground” space – Curfew Bar.
Down the stairs and around the corner, you enter a space filled to the brim with local artwork and murals, booths for groups & large parties, and a shimmering dance floor underneath no less than a hundred disco balls. The sound system is one of the best in town, and a rolodex of local DJs and musicians on the weekends guarantees a good time, every time.
While the space itself is reason enough to visit, the craft cocktail program, spearheaded by General Manager and local bar scene veteran Deven Kampenhout, balances sophisticated and innovative flavors with lively, creative presentation.
The Painkiller in particular – a local spin on the tiki classic—has become a cult favorite among the late-night crowd. An ever-changing seasonal menu alongside the fine-tuned classics provides a bounty of must-try options for any taste palette. The stone-baked pizzas, made to order using a top-secret in-house crust recipe, also happen to be a perfect pairing for the ever-flowing libations.
But how did this underground space, which opened its doors in 2020, come to be amid the pandemic? The owners, Fort Worth-based hospitality group Cowtown Concepts, LLC, bring a decade-long background of event production to the table and dreamed up a space that would showcase local talent and become a community staple for dancing and good times.
Creative Manager SaraGrace Lee’s inspiration for the space was a Texas fairground after hours, reflected in the glowing neon, nostalgic motifs, and general sense of whimsy.
The project, which included a ground-up cosmetic renovation by a small local team, began mere weeks before the shut down, but pushed through and was successfully open for business when the world reopened. Descending the steps to this underground bar may be reminiscent of the adolescent sentimentality of sneaking out after curfew to pursue a night of mischief.
So, what have the past two years signified for Cowtown Concepts? With reception of Fort Worth Magazine’s Readers Pick for Best Dance Floor and a nomination for the CultureMap Fort Worth’s 2022 Bar of the Year award, it’s an exciting time to be out past Curfew.
What can we expect in the coming months? A summer full of escaping the heat to dance the night away. Owner, Bryan Lee, has a few more things up his sleeve this summer. Stay tuned, we’ve picked up some hints about another cheeky concept on its way. Tight-lipped as ever, when pressed for more information, Lee simply grins and says, “Zoltar says you’ll just have to wait and see.”
