The popular Buon Giorno Coffeehouse & Roastery is moving to a larger space.
Buon Giorno will vacate its Florence Street location and reopen on the ground floor of the First on 7th redevelopment project underway at 500 West 7th Street. Construction will start this summer, with the shop’s opening planned for late fall. The new space will be about 2,000 square feet and seat about 55, not including the outdoor seating on the plaza. The currnet Buon Giorno space seats about 35.
“The new space is very appealing as it moves us deeper into downtown and also closer to a large number of our current customers who inhabit the nearby offices,” said Buon Giorno Owner David Clarke. “Also, the concept allowing a combination of retail offerings opens up this end of the downtown environment where there has traditionally not been a lot to offer.” In addition to gourmet coffees, the shop serves up pastries, desserts and weekly live music.
The First on 7th project (originally First National Bank of Fort Worth) is a 21-story tower that features the clean, unadorned geometry emblematic of mid-century modern architecture. Designed by New York’s Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and associate architect Preston M. Geren & Associates of Fort Worth, the building was completed in 1961. Red Oak Realty began a major update of the complex in December 2018, with completion planned for the latter part of 2019.
Buon Giorno, which will face the building’s 7th Street plaza and feature both indoor and outdoor seating, is among the first street-level retail outlets to announce operations at the site, located on the west end of the central business district. In March, Neighbor’s House Grocery revealed its plans to open a full-service grocery and lunch bistro at First on 7th. There will be free parking for retail customers on the first-floor level of the 6th Street parking garage.
“Buon Giorno and Neighbor’s House are exactly the types of businesses needed to serve the growing number of residential and business customers on the west side of downtown,” said Red Oak Realty President Jack Clark. “We expect to announce additional street-level retailers at First on 7th in the near future, and we think that together they will draw additional interest to this part of town.”
Bringing more momentum to the area is the recent activity at Cantey Hanger Plaza, across the street at 600 W. 6th. Red Oak Realty has renewed the Cantey Hanger law firm lease and added CityCentral, a co-working company that will occupy the top floor starting in late fall of 2019.
www.firston7th.com