New York City-based WestBend Popbar, known for its handmade gelato-on-a-stick and other easy-to-eat frozen treats, will open its first Texas location at WestBend in September, joining Warby Parker, SusieCakes and Bartaco on the list of tenants making their Fort Worth debut at the property.
“At WestBend, we want to offer the community an experience that they can’t get anywhere else. To do this, we’re focused on attracting innovative, best-in-class retailers that deliver a unique culture and in-store experience consistent with the vibe we are setting throughout the property,” said Terry Montesi, CEO of Trademark Property Co., developer of WestBend, on South University Drive near the Trinity River.
“Popbar has an especially unique story. It is a concept we pursued in direct response to customer requests for a place to have frozen treats at WestBend. We’re happy we were able to deliver on this and look forward to announcing additional new-to-market tenants in the coming months.”
Popbar serves gelato, sorbetto and yogurt in a different way – on a stick. In addition to treats such as frozen hot chocolate on a stick, the menu includes 40-plus rotating flavors, along with dippings and toppings, which allow for customizable flavor combinations. The staff makes make all pops in house daily, producing small batches of 26 popbars at a time using natural ingredients. Popbar will open a 1,021-square-foot location in September – while Texas will still be baking – between HG Sply Co. and CorePower Yoga.
WestBend’s new tenants and its public art program are part of a property redevelopment focused on evolving the University Drive retail district by delivering a critical mass of retail and restaurants in a walkable, urban-style experience with connections to the Trinity River/Trinity Trails. Other initiatives include new Class A office space, free covered parking and extensive riverside outdoor seating. – Robert Francis