Urban Renewal
Coffee, tea, and cider join cool reno at Near Southside Fort Worth
The 710 South Main building, a newly renovated mixed-use space in the heart of Fort Worth's South Main Village, has signed on four exciting new businesses that will be open to the public by spring 2019.
They include a cider company, a coffee-and-tea bistro, a cooking school, and a coworking space. All are either under construction or have opened their doors.
710 South Main is a nearly 20,000-square-foot building in the Near Southside that was once home to All Needz Plumbing. The building has been revitalized by real estate company M2G Ventures into an urban space with eclectic brands and artisanal retailers.
The four new entities are:
Black White & Brew. This industrial-themed, garage-style cafe and eatery comes from twin sisters June and Julia Vichaichalermwong and business partner David Vu. The 1,200-square-foot coffee-and-tea bistro will capture the essence of traditional European concepts with an international fusion food menu and a leisurely ambiance. Opening March 2019.
The Work Lodge. This will be the fifth location of this statewide coworking space, which has reserved the entire second floor and part of the first of 710 South Main, with 12,000 square feet of private and open-concept offices. Amenities will include front desk concierge, virtual assistants, mailrooms, fully furnished offices, event spaces, and a unique philanthropic structure, supporting The Gabriel Foundation with a dollar-for-dollar giveback initiative. Opening March 2019.
The Cookery. An interactive culinary concept founded by chef Kelly Huddleston boasts an experiential approach with hands-on cooking lessons designed to feel like you're cooking in a friend's kitchen, with four-course menus inspired by international, regional, and seasonal cuisine. Opening March 2019.
Locust Cider. Fort Worth's first cider maker, Locust is already up-and-brewing. This is the seventh location for Locust, founded by Fort Worth natives and brothers Patrick and Jason Spears, who make small batches of high-quality cider made from Washington apples and other fruits. Open now.
Near Southside communications director Megan Henderson says in a release that Near Southside, Inc. and the community are extremely excited to see the South Main Village vision materialize after years of advocacy.
"This year, with the South Main Street reconstruction now complete, many of the village's most historic structures are finding a renewed purpose through local investment, character tenants, and active retail storefronts," Henderson says. "No doubt, 710 S. Main Street is a key component of these successes."
Founded in 2014, M2G Ventures specializes in landlord and retail consulting for districts such as the Fort Worth Stockyards, as well as urban and hybrid commercial real estate development and investment. The company's mission and vision is a fusion of founders Jessica Miller and Susan Miller Gruppi's experience and expertise in real estate development and tenant and landlord representation of major brands.
Jessica Miller previously worked at Open Realty Advisors in Dallas on rollouts for Tesla, Spanx, and Apple throughout North America. Prior to launching M2G Ventures in Fall 2014, Susan Miller Gruppi worked at Trademark Property Company in a variety of roles including vice president.