Fort Worth Council Approved Roy Pope Site Restaurant

The city council granted a zoning exemption for a new restaurant at the historic Roy Pope grocery location.

Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Dining Out

Bold vector editorial illustration of a historic red brick commercial building facade, representing a local restaurant development project in Fort Worth. — The Fort Worth City Council granted a zoning exemption for a new restaurant at the historic Roy Pope grocery location on Merrick Street. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The Fort Worth City Council approved a zoning exemption for a restaurant at 2300 Merrick St. The decision permits reduced parking requirements and alcohol sales at the site.

Why it matters

Developers sought the exemption to preserve the legacy of the historic Roy Pope grocery and meat market, which first opened in 1943. The project aims to balance historic preservation with modern commercial use.

The 7,218-square-foot facility at 2300 Merrick St will feature a bar with a maximum of 25 seats. Developers secured 50 off-site parking spaces through an agreement to address local traffic concerns.

The players

Fort Worth City Council

The governing body responsible for legislative decisions and zoning ordinances within the city.

Westland Hospitality Group

The commercial entity that acquired the lease for the historic site to develop a new restaurant.

Roy Pope

The original founder of the historic grocery and meat market that previously occupied the site.

The details

The restaurant, operated by Westland Hospitality Group, will cap food sales at approximately 75% of total revenue. Daily operations are limited to 9 p.m. closures on weekdays and 10 p.m. on weekends to address community concerns regarding noise and activity.

Roy and Rose Pope opened the grocery market in 1943.
Westland Hospitality Group took over the building lease on June 1, 2026.
The zoning commission denied the initial exemption request in September 2026.
The City Council approved the zoning exemption on September 29, 2026.

Roadmap

This development reflects the broader trend of repurposing neighborhood-staple commercial sites into contemporary dining venues. It highlights the tension between preserving local history and the evolving commercial needs of established residential districts.

Residents may see changes in traffic and street usage near 2300 Merrick St as the restaurant begins operations. The project's off-site parking agreement is intended to mitigate the local impact on existing parking availability.

The takeaway

The transformation of the Roy Pope site demonstrates the complexity of redeveloping neighborhood landmarks under strict community scrutiny. Residents can monitor local council filings for future adjustments to operational permits or noise ordinances.