‘A place for you’: Take a look inside this new Fort Worth-themed bar, grill

Rex Benson wants to promote the culture of Fort Worth through a new bar and grill, just a stone’s throw away from his father’s iconic breakfast spot.

Benson owns and operates Ol’ South Pancake House, 1509 S. University Dr., which his father David opened in 1962. With breakfast already covered, Rex’s Bar & Grill aims to cover lunch and dinner while being a beacon of all things Cowtown.

“What would be awesome would be creating an entertainment venue that I feel like Fort Worth has needed for a long time,” Benson said. “We’re really excited.”

Benson describes Rex’s Bar & Grill as an elevated sports bar that will also serve as an entertainment venue.

The bar will move into the shell of a former Romano’s Macaroni Grill that closed last year at 1505 S. University Dr. The location has always been on Benson’s mind, given that its only a few hundred feet from Ol’ South’s doorstep.

Renovations are underway and Benson plans to welcome all walks of sports fans when Rex’s opens in late summer or early fall.

“Whatever it may be, there will be a place for you,” Benson said.

A Fort Worth bar celebrating Fort Worth

One of the principles behind Rex’s Bar & Grill is celebrating all things Fort Worth.

Whether that be working with local spirit companies in the bar, or local chefs in the kitchen, Benson hopes to keep everything in the neighborhood.

Speaking of food, Benson is keeping mum on the type of cuisine the restaurant will serve but said its going to be better than standard bar food.

“We’re gonna have a pretty broad spectrum menu, but it’s going to be chef-inspired,” Benson said.

Beyond resourcing local goods, another way to celebrate Fort Worth is through its sports.

Benson wants to make Rex’s the premiere destination for viewing sports from TCU, the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, Charles Schwab Challenge at the Colonial Country Club, Dickies Arena and more.

Throw in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will host games in North Texas, and there’s plenty of local sports to watch. Perhaps there could even be potential partnerships in the future between local teams and the bar, Benson said.

“We want to take the sports bar and take the local sports that are around us,” Benson said. “What makes Fort Worth.”

A little rock and roll at the Fort Worth bar and grill

Benson shared a few renderings of what the bar and restaurant will look like, but stresses that the final product may not be an exact one-to-one.

Inside the bar, patrons will find tables always within sight of the dozen’s of televisions around the building. A billboard scoreboard will hang overhead, complete with a wraparound sports ticker.

Outside on the covered patio, patrons will find additional seating and a stage for live music.

While there’s still plenty of work to be done to realize the dream for Rex’s Bar & Grill, Benson is excited.

Having a family friendly bar and grill that appeals to a broad audience is exactly what Fort Worth needs, Benson said. Plus, according to him, keeping the new locale near the family mainstay is huge.

“The pancake house is my father’s and I will honor it till the day that I die,” Benson said. “But this is my bar.”