Burger News

Fort Worth's first Shake Shack joins the Stockyards' giant makeover

Fort Worth's Stockyards are due for a big makeover.

Photo courtesy of Fort Worth CVB

Fort Worth finally gets its own Shake Shack, which will open in what is surely the most obvious location in town: the Stockyards.

The burger joint known for its unapologetic endorsement of frozen crinkle-cut fries is one of a host of big improvements planned for the Stockyards' Exchange Avenue, according to a heavily guarded press release — improvements that also include a new hotel and renovation of the historic horse and mule barns.

The Stockyards renovation is being overseen by Heritage Development Company, a partnership between Majestic Realty Co. and The Hickman Companies.

Improvements include Hotel Drover, a new boutique hotel at the end of Mule Alley's planned street of shops, eateries, creative office spaces, and live-entertainment venues.

The $175 million renovation and development project is a public/private partnership with the City of Fort Worth and Tarrant County to sensitively restore the Stockyards Historic District. The first phase just broke ground.

The release calls the collection of new businesses "interesting and eclectic." In addition to the above-mentioned Shake Shack, they are as follows:

Second Rodeo Brewing Co. This is a brewpub-meets-live music hall from chef Jason Boso, founder of the Twisted Root chain and creator of the Truck Yard complex on Greenville Avenue. This 12,000-square-foot barn will overlook Marine Creek with a picturesque patio, indoor/outdoor seating, retractable roof, street tacos, and beer brewed on site.

Marcus Paslay TBD. Chef Marcus Paslay, of Clay Pigeon and Piattello Italian Kitchen fame, will do a new concept with grilled and smoked meats and barbecue in a rustic western ambience with an open kitchen, wood-burning grills, and rotisserie smokers. But really, not even a name yet?

Hotel Drover, part of the Marriott Autograph Collection of hotels, will feature 200 rooms and suites, 15,000 square feet of meeting space, and a barn for weddings, meetings, and social events.

The hotel will have a restaurant called the 97 West Kitchen and Bar, featuring regional cuisine, as well as a café/lounge. The hotel's backyard will offer fire pits, pool area, live music, and paths to stroll Marine Creek.

The name pays homage to the legendary Drovers who embodied the true spirit of the west as they herded cattle along the Chisholm Trail to market in Fort Worth.

Other newbies coming to the Stockyards include offices for the American Paint Horse Association; a company called Simpli.fi; Rural Media Group, whose properties include RFD-TV; and home store MB Mercantile & Supply.

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Doughnut News

Luscious doughnut shop Duck Donuts makes Fort Worth debut

Photo courtesy of Visit Addison

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A decadent new doughnut shop is coming to Fort Worth: Duck Donuts, a North Carolina-based chain known for serving doughnuts made to order, will open a shop at 6387 Camp Bowie Blvd. #A within the Ridglea Plaza Shopping Center in Fort Worth.

According to a release, the shop will open on Saturday December 21 at 7 am.

Duck Donuts opened its first locations in 2007 in the beach resort towns of Duck and Kitty Hawk, North Carolina with the intention to create an oasis for vacationers. They're now headquartered in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, and began franchising in 2013, with more than 150 locally owned and operated shops across 26 states and international locations. There was previously a DFW location in Addison on Belt Line Road that opened in 2020 but it did not survive the pandemic.

The Fort Worth shop is owned and operated by husband-and-wife Justin and Morgan Thomas.

“We are delighted to be opening in Fort Worth,” Justin says in a statement. “The community has been patiently waiting for us to open our doors, and now we cannot wait to sprinkle happiness to all with our warm, delicious and made-to-order doubhnuts.”

The 1,035-square-foot shop reflects the franchise’s reimagined design which gives a modern twist on their iconic beach theme and family-friendly atmosphere. Upon entering the store, customers are greeted by the aroma of warm, light vanilla cake doughnuts.

Customers can create their own combination by choosing from coatings, toppings, and drizzles, including traditional favorites such as chocolate icing with sprinkles and more adventurous creations such as maple icing with bacon.

Key to their appeal is the viewing area where children and adults alike can watch their doughnuts being made.

Many of their flavors have a beachy theme such as the Beach, a cake doughnut with vanilla icing dusted with cinnamon sugar; the Sunrise with lemon icing and raspberry drizzle; and the Beach Ball with vanilla icing, rainbow sprinkles, and chocolate drizzle.

They rotate in seasonal offerings such as the current lineup of mint-flavored flavors including chocolate icing with mint buttercream. The doughnuts themselves are limited to vanilla and chocolate cake; the flavors come primarily from icing.

In addition to doughnuts, the Fort Worth location will serve coffee, doughnut breakfast sandwiches, doughnut sundaes — in which a doughnut is topped with ice cream and syrup — plus frozen beverages and milkshakes.

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