Here are the Fort Worth-area restaurants that closed in the first half of 2021
Only a handful of high-profile restaurants closed in the first half of 2021, amazing in a year of a pandemic, high food prices and a national labor shortage.
Two closings in Southlake lead the short list of major closings through July 1, with more than 20 major openings so far and another dozen to come.
A look at the departures halfway through the year:
Restaurant swap in Southlake
Southlake is trading flashy Chinese and Tex-Mex restaurants for one, even more flashy Tex-Mex restaurant.
Howard Wang’s China Grill, an upscale Chinese restaurant and bar from Dallas, closed its Shops of Southlake location June 27.
“As hard as we’ve tried, we have not been able to overcome the economic reality of the pandemic,” was the Facebook page message, saying the restaurant was “challenged with the public-safety, financial strain, and emotional impact.”
Mesero, a Tex-Mex restaurant with a busy bar and patio at other locations, immediately announced a new location in the former Howard Wang’s space, 1471 E. Southlake Blvd.
▪ Next door, Herencia also closed. Founded by former Uncle Julio’s partners, Herencia had a loyal following but not the family-run appeal of Southlake favorites such as Manny’s Tex Mex and Anamia’s.
Biscuits and burgers, but no help
In Fort Worth, contest-winning chef Ben Merritt pulled the plug on his Ben’s Triple B Biscuits, Burgers & Brews, part of the Rosedale Renaissance development near Texas Wesleyan University.
When he closed it May 25, Merritt said the primary reason was the labor shortage. Five employees were leaving Fort Worth at the end of the spring semester.
Some former restaurant workers have chosen to remain home as the pandemic fluctuates. More have chosen to work other jobs where they are not as exposed to co-workers and the public. The reduction in U.S. immigration the last four years has left restaurants desperate for new help.
Ben’s Triple B opened featuring burgers on Merritt’s giant, smooth biscuits, but shifted along with customer demand to a menu of first-rate chicken biscuit sandwiches.
Merritt, a 2019 winner on TV’s “Chopped,” continues his flagship restaurant, Fixture, 401 W. Magnolia Ave.
Changes in Arlington, new and old
One of the pioneers in Arlington’s Urban Union development, Urban Alchemy, switched June 20 from a downtown coffee-and-wine bar to a rental hall.
Owner Tony Rutigliano posted on Facebook that the shop has hosted so many weddings, parties, workshops and retreats in the last three years, he is going into that business along with programming a series of events.
▪ Also in Arlington: The city’s last old-time cafeteria, Furr’s, closed after a short life as an “AYCE [all you can eat] Marketplace.”
(A nearby Luby’s in Forest Hill remains open under a new owner, and Luby’s locations in Fort Worth continue pending any sale.)
Chicken-fried steaks, barbecue
One of the oldest restaurants in North Richland Hills, Sandy’s Real Chicken Fried Steaks, closed after 28 years when the owners retired.
▪ In Fort Worth, Smokey’s BBQ opened as a food truck but closed its restaurant after 41 years at 5300 E. Lancaster Ave.
▪ On the booming Near Southside, Le’s Wok closed due to family illness and Tulips, a bar, ended its sandwich menu.
▪ In west Fort Worth, The Dive Burger Bar closed but continued burgers as an occasional special at Oscar’s Pub in Ridglea.
▪ Blu Crab Seafood moved to 4843 Colleyville Blvd. in Colleyville.
▪ The Pennsylvania-based Crab du Jour chain closed a short-lived Cityview location.
