70-year-old Italian restaurant in west Fort Worth sold to JD’s Hamburgers partners

Bud Kennedy
·1 min read

Margie’s Original Italian Kitchen, open 70 years and one of the oldest Italian restaurants in Texas, has been sold to the owners of JD’s Hamburgers and will take two months off for remodeling, JD’s co-owner Gigi Howell said Monday.

The landmark restaurant, 9805 Camp Bowie Blvd. West, has anchored the Westland neighborhood ever since the community was a separate feed store town west of Fort Worth.

Howell, a former Reata manager, and business partner Bourke Harvey of Curly’s Frozen Custard and Rogers Roundhouse plan to reopen Margie’s after some improvements.

Margie’s opened in 1953 as a roadhouse restaurant on the highway to California.
Margie’s opened in 1953 as a roadhouse restaurant on the highway to California.

Howell and Harvey are also working to reopen JD’s Hamburgers, one block west, which lost its roof and flooded in the March 2 windstorm.

In a statement, Howell said she feels humbled to be carrying on the Margie’s tradiiton.

“We have deep roots in this community and a strong commitment to preserving the spirit of Margie’s, which has always been about great food, warm hospitality, and a sense of belonging,” she said.

Margie’s classic lasagna with meat sauce has been a favorite since 1953.
Margie’s classic lasagna with meat sauce has been a favorite since 1953.

Margie’s has remained mostly unchanged since it was founded in July 1953 as Margie’s Italian Gardens by Margie Walters and her mother, Tina Lozzi., when some American soldiers returning from World War II brought along Italian brides, and more Texans wanted pasta dishes like from the Lozzis’ home city of Bagno a Ripoli, Florence.

In a 1957 Star-Telegram story, Walters promised :”absolutely authentic” Italian dishes such as ravioli, lasagna, and “spaghetti in every style you desire.”

It was one of the first restaurants in the Dallas-Fort Worth area to serve what was then called “pizza pie,” following the older Campisi’s in Dallas.

Margie’s still has much of its 1953 look and appeal.
Margie’s still has much of its 1953 look and appeal.
Margie’s has an old-timey jukebox full of old rock, country and vocals.
Margie’s has an old-timey jukebox full of old rock, country and vocals.