Fort Worth’s dining scene is getting a boost as two well‑known barbecue concepts announce new locations in the city. Panther City BBQ, a Michelin‑recommended Texas barbecue favorite, will take over the former La Playa Maya restaurant at 1540 N. Main Street in the Historic Northside. The 6,463‑square‑foot space, which housed La Playa since 1988, offers an existing restaurant infrastructure that makes it a natural fit for Panther City’s expansion, according to landlord representatives Sarah LanCarte and Brittany Doyle of LanCarte Commercial.
Founded in Fort Worth and currently operating at 201 E. Hattie St. in the South Main Street district, Panther City BBQ’s move into the Northside adds a celebrated local brand to a neighborhood with deep culinary roots. The lease terms were not disclosed.
The Coop Brings Memphis‑Style Wings to South Main Village
At the same time, The Coop, a Memphis‑originated restaurant concept, has signed a lease for roughly 2,250 square feet at 1012 S. Main St., the former Brix Barbecue space in Fort Worth’s South Main Village. The lease marks The Coop’s first Texas location and its entry into the Dallas‑Fort Worth market. Bailey Floyd, vice president at Hatfield Advisors, represented The Coop, while Rachel Forslund and Jake Burns of The Retail Connection represented the landlord.
The new venue will feature an upscale wing bar with craft cocktails, a rooftop patio, two large downstairs patios, and an enclosed smoke pit. Floyd said The Coop plans to open soon, adding a fresh dining option to a submarket that has seen limited new restaurant development since Brix Barbecue closed its doors on August 17, 2025.
Other Local Real‑Estate Activity
In related commercial news, Fort Worth‑based La Pulga Tequila released a limited‑edition Horned Frogs 2026 Tequila Blanco and a three‑year boxed collection, available online for $179.99. Meanwhile, the Northwest Commerce Park Building in the AllianceTexas area was acquired by BGO and Alliance Industrial Company, and NAI Robert Lynn broke ground on Phase III of the Northlake 35 Logistics Park, adding a 1.2‑million‑square‑foot distribution building to the region’s logistics capacity.
These developments underscore a period of growth for Fort Worth’s food and industrial sectors, offering new jobs and expanding options for residents who value locally‑owned businesses and family‑friendly dining experiences.
Original reporting: Fort Worth Report — read the source article.
