Paris Coffee Shop
| Paris Coffee Shop | |
|---|---|
 Interactive map of Paris Coffee Shop | |
| Restaurant information | |
| Established | 1926 |
| Food type | American cuisine |
| Location | 704 West Magnolia Ave, Fort Worth, Texas |
Paris Coffee Shop is a diner in Fort Worth, Texas. It was founded in 1926 by Vic Paris.
Description
The restaurant has mid-century themed decor and booth seating. It is known as a diner and lunch room. The restaurant is known for serving pies, chicken and dumplings, and blue-plate specials.
History
The restaurant is one of the oldest in Fort Worth. It was founded in 1926 by Vic Paris. He sold it to Grigonos "Greg" Asikis. Asikis had immigrated from Greece to the United States when he was a teenager and worked as a dishwasher. He changed his surname to "Greg Smith" to avoid discrimination. He bought the Paris Coffee Shop from Vic Paris in 1930.
In 1965, Greg became ill and his son Mike Smith took over management of the restaurant. Mike had been studying for a master's degree at University of North Texas when Greg began to suffer from Parkinson's disease, which led Mike to return and help at the restaurant. In 1974, Mike moved the restaurant a block west of its original location on Magnolia Avenue and Hemphill Street, into a former Safeway grocery store building.
In 2021, Mike Smith retired and sold the restaurant to Lou Lambert, Chris Reale, and Mark Harris. They renovated the restaurant based on historical photos of the original location.
References
- ↑ Ellington, Michael (2025-06-02). "Fort Worth's Best Classic Restaurants". Eater Dallas. Retrieved 2025-10-16.
- ↑ Stern, Jane; Stern, Michael (2005-04-12). Roadfood: The Coast-To-Coast Guide to 500 of the Best Barbecue Joints, Lobster Shacks, Ice Cream Parlors, Highway Diners, and Much, Much More. Broadway Books. p. 498. ISBN 978-0-7679-2264-7.
- 1 2 3 Blaskovich, Sarah (2022-05-19). "Fort Worth's oldest restaurant, Paris Coffee Shop, has reopened". Dallas News. Archived from the original on 2022-06-02. Retrieved 2025-10-16.
- 1 2 Release, Press (2022-05-19). "Fort Worth's iconic Paris Coffee Shop reopens on Near Southside". Fort Worth Report. Retrieved 2025-10-16.
- ↑ Gleaves, Spray (2014-02-20). "20 Oldest". Fort Worth Magazine. Retrieved 2025-10-16.
- 1 2 Simmons, Linda Blackwell (2017-05-16). "A Day in the Life of Paris Coffee Shop Owner Mike Smith". Fort Worth Magazine. Retrieved 2025-10-16.
- ↑ Smith-Rodgers, Sheryl (2000-06-01). Texas Old-Time Restaurants & Cafes. Simon and Schuster. pp. 28–29. ISBN 978-1-4616-2549-0.
- 1 2 "'Mike's last day.' Owner of Fort Worth's Paris Coffee Shop retires after 55 years". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. April 17, 2021.
- ↑ Dabney, Courtney (2022-04-15). "Legendary Fort Worth Diner On the Verge of Reopening — Restored and Revitalized Paris Coffee Shop to Return". PaperCity Magazine. Retrieved 2025-10-16.
- ↑ Mayhew, Malcolm (2022-05-18). "The Rebirth of Paris Coffee Shop". Fort Worth Magazine. Retrieved 2025-10-16.