Juice News

Healthy juice bar promises to be Fort Worth's new main squeeze

This juice is coming at ya.

Main Squeeze

A New Orleans juice name is coming to Fort Worth: Main Squeeze Juice Co., a Louisiana-based juice and smoothie bar franchise whose ownership includes two professional athletes, will open its first Fort Worth location at 4560 Heritage Trace Pkwy. A release says that will happen in December.

Main Squeeze was founded in 2016, and its ownership group includes current New Orleans Saints punter Thomas Morstead and former Saints wide receiver Marques Colston.

Today, there are 13 locations open and operating throughout Louisiana and Texas. They've opened eight locations in the Houston area and are now setting their sights on Dallas-Fort Worth. The Fort Worth franchisees are husband-and-wife Steve and Jana Simpson, who want to bring something healthy to DFW.

"In an area defined by its Southern food, tacos, and BBQ, it can be hard to eat healthy," Jana says in a statement. "Main Squeeze has a strong philosophy of health and wellness behind them, and we couldn’t be prouder about being a part of this revolution. I think now more than ever people are looking for brands that demonstrate this. We want to give the Fort Worth community something to look forward to, and I think everyone is looking for some good news right now." She is so right.

Main Squeeze's proprietary recipes feature nutritionist-designed cold-pressed juices and superfood smoothies, along with one-, three-, and five-day juice cleanse programs, shots, and acai bowls created from organic and wild-harvested acai berries from the Amazon rainforest in Northeast Brazil.

Main Squeeze also believes in kindness to animals and the environment, says Steve. That's good news because it looks like all of their stuff is served in single-serving plastic.

"We're passionate about offering a 100 percent plant-powered menu, protecting the environment through biodegradable and recyclable packaging, and seeking to change the lives of those looking for a healthier and more convenient way of fulfilling their nutritional goals one cold-pressed juice, açaì bowl or smoothie at a time," he says.

health

Closure News

Tropic Lady restaurant-bar on Fort Worth's Race Street says aloha

Tropic Lady

The dip trio at Tropic Lady.

A chill restaurant and bar in Fort Worth's River East district has closed: Tropic Lady, which opened in the former Fuzzy's Taco space at 2719 Race St. in 2023, has closed.

The restaurant, which closed in mid-December, was a sibling to Bearded Lady, the popular gastropub in Near Southside; their last Facebook post was on December 10. Their phone number is not working, and their website is no longer active. Owner Shannon Osbakken was unavailable for comment, but a Bearded Lady employee confirmed the closure.

Tropic Lady was a tropical-themed gastropub opened by a trio of friends: Bearded Lady owner Shannon Osbakken, her business partner Sarah Allen, and general manager Amanda Yunger. It offered a similar menu as Bearded lady but with more tropical-inspired fare, including shrimp tacos, bacon-wrapped grilled pineapple bites, and guacamole dotted with mango.

For a gastropub, they did interesting food with dishes like watermelon salad with feta and cucumber; or their Dip Trio, with mango guacamole, tomatillo salsa, and queso blanco served with house-made tortilla chips. Definitely not run-of-the-mill. They also had great lunch specials like a smashburger with curly fries for $10.

Food did not seem to be the problem.

Decor featured artwork and murals created by local artists. A beautifully landscaped patio wrapped around the building’s facade. So the setting did not seem to be a factor.

It's tempting to point the finger at its location on Race Street, which has witnessed a round of closings in the past two years including buzzy birria taqueria Caliscience, which closed in February 2024; as well as The Post at River East, a restaurant and live music venue that shut down the same month.

In 2023, three other restaurants on Race Street closed: Tributary Cafe, the Bon Appetit-lauded La Onda, and vegan burger spot Zonk Burger. But separate reasons can also be found for each of those closures, whether that be inexperience or lease issues.

For years, the city and neighborhood advocates have been trying to turn Race Street into a trendy hotspot. As part of the city’s Urban Villages program, the city of Fort Worth invested $5.6 million in revitalizing the area, making improvements to traffic flow, sidewalks, landscaping, and outdoor lighting.

When Osbakken opened the bar, she said she loved the area, stating "it reminds me of Magnolia when were first were on it 10 years ago in our old location. It's a great community and the neighbors have been friendly and reaching out."

And there are still restaurants along the street, including a popular Mexican restaurant called Tesoro, the Dough’d Up doughnut shop, and Kingyo Sushi & Ramen House, as well as a coffee shop, Race Street Coffee.

The Bearded Lady continues to flourish. Osbakken originally opened the popular gastropub on Magnolia Avenue in 2013. Six years later, she moved it to the South Main, where it’s still going strong.

closings