Made in Fort Worth. Yep, that sure has a nice ring to it. From clothing and accessories to snacks and other fun finds, we’ve rounded up 20 things homegrown in Cowtown.
While some of these brands have branched out beyond our city, one thing’s for sure — there’s some major inspiration happening around these parts.
Drinks
TX Whiskey
Firestone & Robertson Distilling Co. was the first craft bourbon and whiskey distillery in Fort Worth. The 112-acre Whiskey Ranch even puts its own unique touch on the bottle caps by sourcing leather pieces from boots and saddles.
Martin House Brewing Company
Founded in 2012 by three friends, the craft brewery prides itself on its motto, “Made in Texas by Texans.” Located on the banks of the Trinity River, the brewery is known for its unique flavors with new beer releases every week. Fan favorites include the Pickle Beer and the Salty Dog.
Avoca Coffee Roasters
The specialty coffee roasters and retailer was founded in 2011 by Garold LaRue and Jimmy Story. With three locations in Fort Worth, customers can enjoy micro-roasted coffee beans made in-house and specialty coffees. Don’t miss out on the food items including cinnamon rolls, bagels, and breakfast tacos.
Rahr & Sons Brewing Company
The brewery was established in 2004 by Frederick “Fritz” Rahr, a former railroad worker who studied brewing in Germany at the Siebel Institute. Located just south of downtown, the brewery has a core lineup of six year-round beers, a yearly release of four seasonal brews, and specialty releases.
Blackland Disilltery
Located in the Foundry District, Blackland uses a unique Texas grain as the base of its spirits including gin, bourbon, vodka, and rye whiskey. Stop by the try the locally created cocktails Thursday-Saturday.
Food
Best Maid Pickles
The Texas-born business has been making pickle lovers’ dreams come true since 1926. The brand has expanded beyond pickles with items like Bloody Mary mix, dill pickle juice, barbecue sauce, and mustard. Pro tip: Check out the Best Maid Pickle Emporium at 829 W. Vickery Blvd. for pickle-flavored items, including cotton candy, beer, and snacks.
Sweet Lucy’s Pies
The made-to-order pie company bakes pies using ingredients from Texas farmers and recently opened its first storefront at 3520 Bluebonnet Cir., near TCU. Be sure to look out for collaborations with other local businesses like the TX Whiskey pecan pie.
MELT Ice Creams
Founded in 2014 by Kari Crowe-Seher, this ice cream shop serves small batches of high-quality ice creams. One of its most popular flavors is the Cookie Crush, inspired by the classic Oreo cookies made with dark cocoa powder. Be sure to grab a cold treat for your furry friends, too.
Fort Worth Meat Packers
The family-owned business has been around for six generations providing custom processing services and is a meat purveyor of beef, bison, wild boar, pork, lamb, and goat.
Morgan’s Ice Cream
Located in the Near Southside, owners Jeff and Stephani Brannon took over the former Gypsy Scoops Ice Cream Parlor at 321 S. Main St. in 2020. Known for its unique flavors, guests can expect flavors like Happy Birthday Cake, Caramel Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Honey Vanilla, and Butter Pecan.
Mrs. Renfro’s
George and Arthurine Renfro started selling spices and vinegar out of their house on Gould Avenue in 1940. Nearly 85 years later, the company is still run by the family but now sells a wide array of salsa and pickled condiments across multiple retailers.
Fashion
M.L. Leddy’s
The Fort Worth staple is a fourth-generation family-owned business that sells luxurious Western items including handmade boots, saddles, and western clothing. Stop by the Stockyards store to find all your Western wear needs.
Fort Worth Locals
The blog-turned-store offers Fort Worth-inspired shirts, mugs, hats, stickers + accessories.
The Best Hat Store
The store was founded in 1996 by Keith and Susan Maddox in the Stockyards. The store offers 4,000+ hats and 100+ styles that can be custom-shaped in materials from felt to straw.
Peters Brothers Hats
The family-owned store started as a downtown shoeshine shop in 1911 by Tom and Jim Peters. In 1993, the store moved to 909 Houston St. and became a full-time hat shop, specializing in custom and factory-made Western hats and fedoras.
Dickies
Cowtown is where it all began for the popular work apparel manufacturer. C.N. Williamson and E.E. “Colonel” Dickie founded the clothing company in 1922, making basic overalls and later expanding to jumpsuits and slacks, eventually creating wardrobe essentials for all hard-working folk.
Justin Boots
Justin was one of the first companies to use decorative stitching to stiffen the boot leather, preventing it from folding around the ankles. In 1925, the company moved from Spanish Fort to Fort Worth to capitalize on the city’s growth. It’s now one of the most well-known boot manufacturers in the country.
Fun Finds
Trippy Outdoor
The outdoor furniture company launched in 2021 and went from concept to product in just nine months. Every piece of furniture is built by hand in Fort Worth, can hold up to 1,000 lbs, and features UV-resistant zero-fade ink, so you can sit comfortably forever.
Runyon’s Fine Furniture
Founded in 1994 by Andy and Bo Runyon, the family-operated business is known for its unique, upscale home collection, incorporating everything from Western and traditional designs to more contemporary pieces. The Roanoke showroom offers artisan furnishings and customizable pieces including saddles, tables, and mirrors.
Into The West
The family-operated boutique furniture store specializes in home furnishings and accessories inspired by American Old West, Hacienda, and Old World styles.
What did we miss? If you know an invention made in Fort Worth that’s not on the list, let us know using this survey.
