Fort Worth’s historic Roy Pope Grocery, a west-side neighborhood institution since 1943, will become part of Westland Hospitality, the acclaimed local restaurant group behind favorites such as Pulido’s Kitchen & Cantina, Margie’s Italian Gardens, and West Side Cafe.

According to a release, Westland Hospitality will partner with Roy Pope’s current ownership to steer the next chapter of the independent grocery and market at 2300 Merrick St. The company says it will retain the Roy Pope name while introducing "a refreshed dining experience rooted in hospitality, history, and Southern Americana flavor."

First opened in 1943 by Roy and Rose Pope as a grocery store and meat market, the release reminds, Roy Pope became a west Fort Worth staple known for quality prepared foods, groceries, and personal service. The store has remained a beloved gathering place for generations of residents in the nearby Camp Bowie, Westover Hills, and Cultural District neighborhoods.

“Roy Pope has always belonged to the neighborhood in a very special way,” says Mark Harris, developer and owner of Roy Pope, in the release. “As we looked toward its next chapter, (Westland Hospitality leaders) Bourke, Gigi, and Westland Hospitality stood out for three reasons. First, they understand Fort Worth. Second, they understand hospitality. Third, they have shown a real respect for places that matter to the community.”

Roy Pope Grocery hosts multiple patio happy hours. Roy Pope Grocery/Facebook

Westland Hospitality leaders say the project is a chance to extend its mission to honor local roots and preserve meaningful Fort Worth dining traditions - as it's done with places like Pulido's and Margie's.

“Roy Pope is dear to my heart,” says Bourke Harvey, managing partner of Westland Hospitality. “I worked there bagging groceries when I was in junior high, as did my brothers. That kind of connection stays with you. We are super busy at Westland Hospitality, but this was an opportunity we could not pass up. When a place carries this much history, personal meaning, and neighborhood connection, it deserves care, attention, and a future that respects where it came from.”

According to a release, the new Roy Pope will feature a menu developed by Westland partners Gigi Howell and Juan Rodriguez, along with chef Levi Gardner, executive chef of Margie’s Italian Gardens.

These chefs know what they're doing. Rodriguez, longtime acclaimed chef at Fort Worth restaurants such as Reata and Magdalena's, is a former Chef of the Year winner in the CultureMap Tastemaker Awards. Gardner was just named Rising Star Chef of the Year at the 2026 Tastemaker Awards, held April 30.

Chef Levi Gardner of Westland Hospitality took home Rising Star Chef of the Year at the 2026 Tastemaker Awards. Photo by Guillermo Rosas

“This is personal for a lot of us,” says Gigi Howell, operating partner of Westland Hospitality. “I remember Roy Pope as the kind of place you found a reason to visit. For me, that meant leaving campus when I probably was not supposed to so I could get some of that fried chicken. Those memories matter. Our goal is to protect that sense of familiarity while giving the neighborhood a beautiful place to gather, eat well, and feel at home.”

It's not the first time Roy Pope has rebooted in recent years. Roy Pope sadly closed in April 2020, after being in business since 1943. But in 2021, former owners Bob and Renee Larance subsequently found a new group to take over the store, its name, and its recipes. The team included restaurateur Lou Lambert and owner-operator Chris Reale, a veteran of Grace, Del Frisco's, and Lambert's, among other Fort Worth icons.

The Fort Worth grocer changed operational hands again in 2024, to husband-and-wife duo and hospitality veterans Ben and Lauren Klipfel.

Westland says Roy Pope will continue to serve as a neighborhood destination for lunch, dinner, and casual get-togethers, while preserving the familiar character that has made it a Fort Worth landmark for more than 80 years.

Additional details, including an opening timeline and menu specifics, will be announced at a later date, they say.