Opening News

Fort Worth's iconic Paris Coffee Shop predicts May for reopening date

Just hang on another 30 or so days, people.

Photo by Malcolm Mayhew

UPDATE 5-20-2022: Paris Coffee Shop is now open daily for breakfast and lunch, with Saturday-Sunday brunch and daily dinner to come, they say.

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Breakfast lovers, take note: Paris Coffee Shop, one of Fort Worth's oldest restaurants, which closed in September 2021 for a renovation, is targeting May for its anticipated reopening.

The iconic restaurant, which opened in 1916 on Magnolia Avenue, has been in the midst of a renovation since the fall. Maybe you've given up hope that it will ever return, but a release reassures that the reopening is still happening. Hang on another 30 days.

Local restaurateur and chef Lou Lambert, who grew up going to Paris Coffee Shop, partnered with Fort Worth developer Mark Harris and longtime colleague Chris Reale to purchase the cafe from owner Mike Smith, who retired after 56 years. His father bought the restaurant from founder Vic Paris in 1926, and Mike assumed operations in 1965.

The renovation includes:

wood detail on the exterior inspired by original photos of the café
interior wood paneling, also informed by early photography
pendant lighting over booths, sconces beside booths
1930s-'40s-style tile detail along the long counter base
a neon sign that features 1940s-style lettering and lighting

The east exterior wall now feature a period-correct letter font for PARIS COFFEE SHOP, designed by local artist Sarah Ayala.

A 2004 mural by the late local artist Bo Powell was sacrificed in order to accommodate electrical and plumbing replacement. But the owners are taking a number of steps to compensate up for this mural tragedy, including a possible mural to be painted on the building's north wall, plus local art on the café’s interior west wall, where a large section in the main dining room will feature work each season by a different local artist.

A hallway will sport enlargements of black-and-white photos for which Paris Coffee Shop was famous, divided into historical sections pertaining to Fort Worth, TCU, and Paris Coffee Shop in the Mike Smith era.

Lambert says they're expanding the menu with offerings they hope will attract new clientele. Vegan, yes? New offerings include blue-plate specials, chicken-fried steak, chicken & dumplings, fried chicken, steak, fish, and Dutch babies for breakfast. Huh. No vegan chicken tenders. Seems like a missed opportunity.

They'll also add booze including mimosas, French 75, and bloody Marys with breakfast and brunch; and beer, wine, and cocktails during lunch and dinner.

"We embrace the coffee shop culture, and we’re committed to preserving the heritage of Paris Coffee Shop and everything that has made it a Fort Worth legend," Lambert says.

sustainability openings

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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