A fun-loving neighborhood bar from Austin is coming to Fort Worth: The Lucky Duck, a small chain from a team of Austin bar veterans, is coming to the West 7th Street district, taking over a former warehouse at 2811 Bledsoe St., with an opening set for mid-November.

It'll be a two-story space with multiple experiences including a main bar, a hidden speakeasy, and a rooftop patio with views of downtown Fort Worth.

Owners Michael Bajec, Bao Le, and Thomas Le founded the original Lucky Duck in East Austin in 2019 as an all-inclusive neighborhood hangout, named for the feeling of luck they felt after nabbing a prime address that had been home to the popular Sputnik burger joint. They've since opened a second location in South Austin and a location in San Antonio.

"Our mantra is to be comfortable and approachable for everyone," Bajec says.

That includes creating a welcoming, vibrant space with TVs, games, beer, cocktails, and lots of varied programming.

"We keep a calendar of events like crawfish boils, free oyster nights, free BBQ pop-ups, salsa nights," he says. "We try to always host fun events of all types — off-the-wall stuff you don't see elsewhere. On any night we'll have something special, to create a fun hangout where a lot of people can feel welcome."

Bajec, who has family in the DFW area, says they fell in love with Fort Worth. "It reminds me of Austin 20 years ago, when I first moved there, with a cool relaxed vibe," he says.

Lucky Duck will join a row of successful bars on Bledsoe Street that includes Koe Wetzel's Riot Room, Junk Punch, and No Vacancy. "We feel like we'll fit in and the crowds will vibe well together," Bajec says.

The Fort Worth location has been in the works for nearly two years.

"Permitting took 18 months and then construction took quite a while," he says. "The space was a warehouse and parking, which we completely remodeled. We transformed it into a 12,000-square-foot space with two stories, a speakeasy, and a separate rooftop."

Decor-wise, the Fort Worth space follows their trademark scheme of colorful with a dose of whimsy.

"The space is bright with pink walls and palm trees painted in the bathrooms — kind of an outdoor clubhouse vibe," Bajec says. ""Downstairs has a lot of forest greens with our 'duck' theme, and neon pieces such as a duck in a cowboy hat. We're going for fun, but not overbearing."

There'll also be a "myriad of arcade games," he says, including Skee-Ball, basketball games, and rubber duck-themed claw machines.

They offer food at their other locations and will have it at Fort Worth as well, but only after they get open. Their cocktail selection might include a drink like their Espresso Martini or their Lavender Mule.

"At our main bar, we'll do cocktails that change seasonally, with fun twists and some frozens, but nothing unrecognizable," he says. "However, we'll have higher-end cocktails at our in-house speakeasy which will be in the back, hidden behind a secret entrance."

Each location has its own personality. South Austin spans two buildings with a large outdoor area that incorporates pickleball courts. Fort Worth's special feature will be the rooftop patio.

"Having a view of the downtown Fort Worth skyline is a highlight for us," he says. "You can't find that anywhere else in West 7th."