Bella Italia, the long-running Westside Italian staple that has anchored Camp Bowie for decades, is getting ready to leave its familiar red-brick dining room and head a short drive west. The chef-owner's team says the Camp Bowie location will close at the end of the year, with its final service scheduled for tomorrow. Management plans to reopen at a new Ridglea Village spot next spring, and the restaurant expects its signature game-focused menu to make the trip with it.
According to the Fort Worth Star‑Telegram, owner Carlo Croci said the move follows the sale of the land at Bella Italia’s Camp Bowie corner, and the buyer is planning a new development that could include a restaurant from Aspen, Colo. The paper reports that Bella Italia will take over a suite that formerly housed The Fitzgerald at the Village at Camp Bowie and intends to reopen there in spring 2026.
Chef Carlo Croci first brought Bella Italia to the Camp Bowie bricks in 1988 after running a smaller Wedgwood location, and the restaurant built its reputation on game dishes like elk, bison, and ostrich, backed by a deep wine list. On its own site, Bella Italia lists its Camp Bowie hours and reservation line as 817‑738‑1700 and notes that dinner is generally by reservation on weeknights and Saturdays. Regulars often point to the old‑school dining room and Croci's willingness to serve less common proteins as key reasons the spot stuck around.
New home at Ridglea Village
Commercial property listings for the Village at Camp Bowie identify 6115 Camp Bowie Boulevard as the shopping center's address and list The Fitzgerald among its recent tenants, a footprint Bella Italia plans to occupy, according to LoopNet. With a mix of banks, offices, and restaurants, the Village location sits within an easy drive for many Camp Bowie regulars and should keep longtime customers within reach of their usual table.
When and how to book
Questions about reservations, including closing-night seating, should go through Bella Italia's listed phone number, 817‑738‑1700, and the restaurant's website, which the team points to for the most current information. Management says it will announce a firm reopening date for the Ridglea Village location once construction and build-out are complete.
Why Camp Bowie is changing
Camp Bowie has seen a steady churn of repairs, remodels, and tenant turnover this year, and the Fort Worth Star‑Telegram frames Bella Italia's relocation as part of a broader reshuffling along the bricks. The paper notes that seven restaurants failed in a row at the Camp Bowie and Merrick corner before Bella Italia finally stuck, a track record that helps explain investor interest in redeveloping the parcel. Those commercial pressures appear to be the immediate push behind the restaurant's decision to relocate.
Tarrant Appraisal District records list CROCI P C as the owner of 5139 Camp Bowie, which ties ownership and land-use decisions directly to the move. Bella Italia says it will share more details about the Ridglea Village build-out and a firm reopening date as plans are finalized.
