Fred’s Texas Cafe had some good and not-so-good news in a press release today. First, the not-so-good: The restaurant is closing the doors to its over 40-year-old West 7th location. The good news, on the other hand, is it is relocating to a new, larger space.
The new Fred’s Texas Cafe will be located at 7101 Camp Bowie West, formerly home to restaurant Buffalo West which closed in July 2020. Fred’s plans to open in early Spring 2022. The restaurant’s original location is at 915 Currie St. and will officially close on December 31.
Purchased in 1978 by JD and Gari Chandler, the building housing the Currie St. burger joint has been in that location for almost 50 years. During the restaurant’s four decades of operation, the business has stayed family-owned and local through the partnership of long-time friends and co-owners, Terry Chandler – JD and Gari’s son – and Quincy Wallace.
The business partners and chuckwagon cooks are familiar faces to customers who frequent Fred’s. While the original location will be missed, Chandler and Wallace are excited for the opportunity to bring Texas’ best burgers and western cuisine to a new area of Fort Worth.
“The decision to move Fred’s is a hard one, but the right one if we want to keep making great food for great people!” Wallace, co-owner and operating partner for Fred’s, said in a statement. “I’m gonna miss going into that building every day like a lot of our loyal regulars.”
The business decision to relocate comes amidst the personal decision of founders, JD and Gari Chandler, to officially retire from the restaurant business, including selling the Currie St. building. Wallace expressed gratitude to the Chandlers for their years of hard work and support.
“What JD and Gari created is more than a building; it is a family of people who come in for a great meal surrounded by their neighbors and community,” he said. “Fred’s has that foundation as part of its legacy. Terry, myself, and the entire Fred’s team want to thank them for their hard work and support throughout these years! They are the reason Fred’s is a success and has this great opportunity to expand.”
The new West Fort Worth location will include a larger indoor dining space, event stage, and direct lot and street parking access. It will also have an extended covered outdoor patio equipped with garage doors, heating and cooling.
For those restaurant regulars who might be worried that moving to a new space will mean forgetting the past, Wallace and Terry Chandler have no plans to. They will bring signature design elements and even some of the actual decor from Currie St. into the new location, including booths and the hallmark truck outside the cafe. Additionally, Fred’s will continue to make long-time guests feel at home with events featuring live music from local talent.
The menu at the new location will largely be the same, but it will see the return of seasonal and specialty menu items of the past. More information and menu rollouts will be announced on the restaurant’s social media channels as the opening nears.
To celebrate the landmark Fred’s Texas Cafe location, the restaurant will host a series of special programming, weekly menu additions, and events throughout November and December culminating on December 31 in the official close of the location. These community-focused events will invite friends, family, and longtime diners to celebrate the legacy of the restaurant. More program details will be announced soon on the restaurant’s website and social media channels.
During the winter closing and before the new spring opening of the West location, Fred’s Texas Cafe is inviting guests to visit its North Fort Worth location at 2730 Western Center.
For more information, visit fredstexascafe.com. Connect on Instagram.
