Closure News

Venerable dive bar on Fort Worth's Eastside closes after 17 years

Ozzie Rabbit Lodge RIP.

fortworth.culturemap.com

A classic dive bar in Fort Worth has closed: Ozzie Rabbit Lodge, which dubbed itself "one hell of a dive," closed on May 5, going out with a bang on Cinco de Mayo.

The bar, which opened in 2007, was located at 6364 E. Lancaster Ave., just east of 820, along the same strip as Dixie House.

"After 17 years and 8 months over here on the Eastside…The Ozzie Rabbit Lodge is shutting its doors this Sunday at close, after Cinco de Mayo," their post said. And then in classic irreverent form: "Come and say adios fuckers!"

The bar's name was a reference to Lee Harvey Oswald, whose grave was located nearby in the Rose Hill Memorial Cemetery, in the Handley neighborhood of Fort Worth. "Ozzie Rabbit" was reportedly Oswald's nickname.

Inside the bar were many photos and posters of well known images from the JFK assassination and aftermath, including the famous photo of Jack Ruby shooting Oswald. It even earned a nod on Roadside America as a "Saloon Shrine to the JFK Assassination."

They prided themselves on being a dive bar with a big beer selection, and an amazing jukebox. They had drink specials like $4 beers and $4 tequila daily. Of course they served Pabst Blue Ribbon.

In one ad, they bragged that they were "the only place Punks, Bikers, Hipsters, your Grandpa, Cowboys & Meth Whores can live in peace."

Like any great bar, they fostered a community, hosting events such as vintage motorcycle/chopper contests, tattoo artist pop-ups, chili cookoffs, tailgate parties, and potlucks.

They also did sports broadcasts including football and baseball; on Texas Rangers opening day, they would serve chili, and would frequently offer free bites like pizza and sliders.

They foreshadowed the closure on April 24, with a post that stated, "Local Dive Bars are a dying breed," it said. "A lot, and I mean a LOT of local dives have gone out of business in the past few years."

Fans lamented its loss, calling it sad news, and thanking it for providing warm, hospitality, and great memories.

"I didn't know I drank enough Bud Light to keep the good times rolling," one said.

closings

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.

doughnuts openings