A fast-growing Austin bar brand is about to make its Fort Worth debut, bringing a two-story venue with a main bar, a hidden speakeasy and a rooftop patio with downtown skyline views to a remodeled warehouse on Bledsoe Street. The Lucky Duck is set to open its new 12,000-square-foot location in the West 7th Street district in mid-November, following nearly two years of planning and construction, according to CultureMap Fort Worth.
The new spot sits at 2811 Bledsoe St., occupying a former warehouse and parking area that the owners say was completely reimagined for the concept, according to CultureMap Fort Worth. Co-founder Michael Bajec told the outlet, “The space was a warehouse and parking, which we completely remodeled.” Getting there wasn't quick: the project required 18 months of permitting alone, part of the nearly two-year development timeline CultureMap Fort Worth reported.
The Lucky Duck brand got its start in East Austin in 2019, founded by Bajec along with Bao Le and Thomas Le. Since then, it has grown to a second Austin location in the south part of the city and a San Antonio outpost, per the same account. The bar has built a reputation around draft beers and a rotating list of craft cocktails, a style Community Impact highlighted when the bar's South Austin location opened, noting its variety of draft beers and seasonal craft cocktails.
A Warehouse Reborn With Duck-Themed Flourishes
Inside, the Fort Worth location will lean into the brand's playful aesthetic, with decor described as pink walls, palm-tree paintings in the bathrooms, forest greens and duck-themed neon signage, as noted by CultureMap Fort Worth. Arcade entertainment will include Skee-Ball, basketball games and rubber duck-themed claw machines, giving the space a bit of boardwalk energy alongside its bar programming.
The main bar is expected to pour seasonally changing cocktails, including frozen drinks, while the hidden speakeasy in back — accessible only through a secret entrance — will serve higher-end cocktails for guests looking for something quieter; CultureMap Fort Worth reported that the location will also have a rooftop patio with views of downtown Fort Worth. The report indicates the drink menu could include options like an Espresso Martini or a Lavender Mule, though the full lineup has not been finalized. Food will also be offered once the bar opens, though specifics on the menu have not yet been detailed.
Why Fort Worth, and Why Now
Bajec has family ties to the Dallas-Fort Worth area, and he and his co-owners said they fell in love with Fort Worth while scouting the expansion, a detail included in the CultureMap report. Bajec described the brand's broader philosophy in a statement to the outlet, saying The Lucky Duck aims to be comfortable and approachable for everyone. True to that mission, the bars are known for hosting crawfish boils, free oyster nights, free barbecue pop-ups and salsa nights, per a report from CultureMap Fort Worth, in addition to TVs, arcade games and the rotating drink and event programming that have become the chain's signature.
On Bledsoe Street, The Lucky Duck will join an already lively stretch of West 7th nightlife that includes Koe Wetzel's Riot Room, Junk Punch and No Vacancy, according to the CultureMap report. The rooftop patio, with its view of the downtown Fort Worth skyline, adds another outdoor draw to a corridor increasingly built around bar-hopping and live entertainment.
Fort Worth generally requires any building used or occupied in the city — aside from one- and two-family homes and townhouses — to hold a Certificate of Occupancy, according to a City of Fort Worth data page tracking such permits issued by its Development Services department. The mid-November opening timeline would put the Lucky Duck's Bledsoe Street debut after its long permitting process and subsequent construction.
