Fort Worth’s Sundance Square Saga Continues
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There was a time when Fort Worth’s Sundance Square was booming. The buzzing 35-block mixed-use development in the heart of downtown Cowtown, created by Bass Brothers Enterprises, was exciting and busy. Thanks to the Bass family’s big support, downtown Fort Worth was revitalized.
People were walking the sidewalks, kept safe by the private security. Restaurants were thriving, movie theaters were crowded, and boutiques sold the latest trends.
ESPN showed up with a lineup of hosts for the Super Bowl, the College Football Playoff National Championship and “College GameDay” broadcasts. President Bill Clinton held a 1996 campaign rally in an open lot, with crowds on the ground and office workers pressed to their high-rise windows. A spring art show drew crowds lured by fried foods, juried art, and free outdoor concerts with the likes of Leon Russell and Delbert McClinton.
Butch Cassidy and Sundance
Yes, in the late ‘90s and early 2000s, things were rocking in the area named for Sundance Kid, who along with Butch Cassidy, hung out in Fort Worth during the 1800s.
In the new millennium, though, things began to change, with a slowdown of all this exciting commerce. The South Seven development stole some of Sundance Square’s thunder, and the Shops at Clear Fork opened with none other than Neiman-Marcus.
Then the pandemic hit. Food delivery services made it convenient to stay stuck on the couch. People now preferred buying clothes online. Then there are the tales of billionaire Ed Bass and his second wife, Sasha Camacho Bass, being difficult and non-responsive landlords.
Choose whatever reason or add them all together, and Sundance Square isn’t quite as sunny as it once was.
Haltom’s Jewelers’ main store, its Main Street location, is gone. Witnessing the removal of its giant, iconic clock from its Main Street perch was painful for people.
Growing List
Formerly popular restaurants like Piranha Killer Sushi and Killer Taverna shuttered. Uno Pizzeria & Grill closed after 28 years. Reata took its tenderloin tamales down the street.
The popular Four Day Weekend improv club moved the laughs to Stage West, still in Fort Worth but a different ZIP Code. Add to the list of businesses lost Five Guys Burgers & Fries, H&M, Melt Ice Creams, Taco Diner, Bird Café, Cantina Laredo, Ann Taylor Loft, White House Black Market, and Marie Holliday’s longtime dental practice.
Known as “Doc Holliday,” the dentist moved her Let It Shine Dental practice in June 2024 after 30 years in a Sundance Square office location. Her Flower to Go floral business, previously in two different Sundance Square spots, moved in January of this year. Before that, Holliday also operated Parfumerie Marie Antoinette from a Sundance Square street front on Second Street.
Amid chaos, confusion, and ongoing dead-end negotiations, she said she needed to move. Why?
“That was all Sasha,” she said.
“What went wrong was that the respect, integrity and dynamics of Sundance Square completely went away,” Holliday said. “It was not the place that it had been, especially because of ownership and management. They were not people of their words.
Holliday’s new site is in downtown’s City Center Fort Worth. The center, once a part of Sundance Square, by her “old landlords,” Johnny Campbell. Previously Campbell had worked for Sundance Square, “Then the divorce happened,” Holliday said.
“The divorce happened on Jan. 1, 2020,” she said. “It occurred at midnight.”
Good News
Meanwhile, there’s good news for Sundance Square. A new business will reside in the eye-catching spot once occupied by other businesses, including Reata.
“The Spotlight is a new live music venue which will open later in 2025,” Bryan Eppstein, Sundance Square’s spokesperson, responded via email to CandysDirt.com’s request for information. “It will occupy Sundance Square’s former Caravan of Dreams location on Houston Street in downtown Fort Worth.”
Parking, once easily validated by Sundance Square retailers, has changed, leaving potential customers confused. When asked about it, Sundance Square did not address.
So, Fort Worth’s downtown scene, inside and outside of Sundance Square, is shifting. City Hall just moved from the heart of downtown to 100 Fort Worth Trail, formerly Pier 1’s headquarters. Other businesses that have left Sundance Square have found new addresses, while others, like Piranha Killer Sushi just maintained their other locations. Reata remains downtown, but at 530 Throckmorton St., outside of the Sundance Square area. Holliday is one who chose to do the same, by staying, and she’s glad she did.
“There is a better life after Sundance,” Holliday said. “It’s like being in heaven.”
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I still love downtown FW. Love how FW rehabs bldgs instead of tearing them down. Love the art deco bldgs. Love places like Del Friscos, who has valet parking as does Reata! Love that older adults can sit at quite places like the Sinclair or the Worthington. But the young people still have Thompsons speakeasy.
No reason to go there anymore. The good vibes have left. The place is depressing now.
Former Dallas resident and spent a lot of time in Ft Worth at the Museums, free outdoor concerts, free outdoor Art events. I think last year they did an outdoor light show on the side of a building in a park area. Caravan of Dreams was our favorite spot and the Bass Family had there fingerprints all over the place. Great and atmosphere was always wonderful. One Cold night after a late show, most likely after 1am we were headed to our vehicle and free parking surrounded here and there by the Bass Family security personal. Then the Basses built the Bass Performance Hall and that changed everything and so went The Caravan of Dreams.
It was Sasha Bass who destroyed Sundance Square. I was Sasha’s neighbor, and I can assure you that Ed Bass could not have entrusted it to a more entitled and incompetent person than Sasha. Ed Bass, thinking with his little head instead of the big one, appointed Sasha as the head of Sundance Square, and she immediately began dismantling it.
She dismissed most of the private security in the residential buildings because they had been too friendly with her when she was just a gold-digging tenant. She even fired some who dared to address her by her first name after she became Her Highness of Downtown. To exacerbate matters, she raised rents during COVID and evicted those who fell behind, showing no mercy.
She attempted to shut down the Hooters downtown location after her so-called “negotiations” to place it on Bass property by launching a fake “moral outrage” campaign. She demanded that some residents of Sundance participate in a news broadcast to protest and express their outrage. Ed, blinded by his own foolishness, fell for the most common get-rich scheme in the book, falling for the allure of a woman who is 30 to 40 years younger than him.
As for the Main Street Arts Festival, she transformed it into a personal event for her amusement by blocking off a significant portion of it, reserving that part exclusively for herself and her close group of “friends.” This deprived the public of access to many talented artists. I cherished Sundance Square, living amidst the great restaurants, shopping, walking to Bass Hall and other great events, and having the best neighborhoods a person could ask for. However, Sasha has turned the town I loved into a virtual ghost town. Any new businesses that venture into the Square may not survive if she remains in charge.
Wow Robert that sounds awful!
As a resident of FW I was wondering why Sundance Square was not as popular as it seemed to be in the past. I’m very sad to read everyone’s comments. There was a time when FW held the distinction of being THE place to be…and that was because Sundance Square was thriving. The 7th St area also held that distinction for a while but corporate greed and high dollar rent rates killed that off. What is it with the business folks in charge of the direction of FW…why can’t we have nice things? You will make $$ if you keep the stores and restaurants occupied because people will come. We used to do things for the “greater good.” I’m sad it appears that is no longer the case.
Is rhe Palace theater still there ?what about Billy Miners,orchestra cake factory?
Yes she is running every business out of town it’s sad for fort worth Downtown was the place to be now it’s the stock yards at least we have a place to hang out now
“When the people shall have nothing more to eat, they will eat the rich.”
-Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Robert Bishop , you nailed it! I moved downtown because Sundance was so fun and lively. Now, I’m thinking of selling all because of Sasha. I’m so disappointed!
We stopped going to Sundance long before Sasha Bass. The promoters of FW ‘s downtown never realized that us suburbanites have cars and it became arduous to park. Costly fees and walking blocks made the other entertainment venues more attractive. The straw though were the gangs of teenagers that would interrupt a movie at AMC by running into the theater during a movie yelling and screaming. Same reason why malls have died. Unruly teenagers. I’m not going to risk my safety. Better address parking and safety first if you want us back to downtown.
If you know who Bryan Eppstein is (no, not THAT Epatein), then this all makes sense. He is a political “consultant” for all the big FW politicians.
For example, with the water district, he was the campaign manager for several on the board and they then gave him a kickback by hiring him to do the Lawn Whisperer campaign and paid him a big chunk of your money.
If he is the “spokesman” for Sundance Square, you can guarantee that a group of politicians like Granger, Geren, Price and others are driving people out on purpose so they can get big donors into those spots.
Pull that thread and see what you find.
I wasn’t aware of the total Sundance District but Downtown Ft. Worth was “Awesome”!!!
The late 80’s going into the 90’s and early 2000’s, Caravan of Dreams, Uno, the walking around seeing beautiful displays in windows, Billy Bob’s and their build your own hamburgers(Wow!!).
My family and I still talk about those burgers today!! We lived maybe 20 miles away and when we wanted a GREAT burger, we would head to Billy Bob’s!
I’m just remembering great times in Downtown Ft. Worth!!
I second everything Robert Bishop said. I’ve talked to way too many artists and venders concerning the decline of Sundance Square and a majority of the issues all seem to stem from one person – Sasha Bass.
My family and I are particularly disgusted at how she’s disrupted The Main Street Art Festival by literally cutting it in half and not allowing any of the festival artists to set up in the Sundance Square. In the past, The Main Street Art Festival art booths filled all of Sundance Square, now the artists have been forced down already cramped side streets (granted, this is a small gripe compared to how she has effected others, but the festival has been one of our favorite things for decades). Now, in the Sundance Square area, there’s a wine/liquor bar and a small tent showing what’s supposed to be local artists. I’m not at opposed to showing local artists at all, but couldn’t they have compromised with the city somehow and made a small section at ether end of Main street to accommodate them instead of taking away so much space right in the middle of the festival? I believe local artists should be actively promoted just maybe not forced into the 2nd largest art show in the United States. The artists at The Main Street Art Festival are picked by a jury on the quality and scope of their work, and if local artists can produce work that is better than the professional artists can, than that can apply and get in on their own merit just like everyone else. Overall, taking away Sundance Square away from the festival reduces limits the number of professional artists the festival can accept and forces the ones they do down cramped side streets.
All in all, it just seems like a selfish, petty, move but given the numerous other stories I’ve heard about Sasha Bass, that does appear to be how she operates. It is a real shame though, for Fort Worth and the Bass family in general, because the Bass family was so revered and respected for how much they helped downtown come to life. Now it appears they are becoming equally despised for letting it become so neglected.
As a life long resident (by that I mean born and reared) of Fort Worth I am very thankful to be able to read the various speculations on what has impacted a once flourishing center of activity in our cities heart. I can recall different manifestations of downtown Fort Worth spanning from the era of the Leonard’s Department Store, the subway rail to Leonard’s, the underground shopping beneath Fort Worth National Bank, the huge commerce defining red-orange Alexander Calder sculpture, the hey day of Caravan of Dreams as the hot spot all the way up through present day. There was free parking on weekends. It was a time you could just park then walk around and spend a few dollars. Now the city wants you to use your gas to drive to downtown ($$), pay to park($$) then spend money shopping ($$$). These “improvements” are out of touch with the populace. The population consists of people with money AND those with little to no money. THEY are all important and and would love to enjoy the sights and sounds of downtown and their interests need be represented with mobility impaired and financially-challenged visitor friendly downtown amenities. Some can only saunter around downtown and window shop and people watch. Yet even THEY add to the hustle and bustle and richness of character of the city’s vibe. There have been many, many changes and I’m personally eager for and invested in the energy to return. I have recently enjoyed visiting the 400H gallery and the Zona gallery. My biggest surprise was returning to my vehicle and finding a parking citation on my windshield even though I had my handicap placard visibly displayed. Evidently I failed to keep up with all the changes. If you have a disability you better have your walker or your fat wallet…
Yes Sundance used to be fun and exciting to go there for concerts,holidays,etc.. Not anymore. It is not picturesque like it use to be especially at Christmas time. No decorations except the tree. All that bunched up green bushes looks terrible. Mr. BASS needs to sell Sundance or take ot away from his god awful wife. She has ruined DOWNTOWN now for years. I bet she had a hand in the Christmas parade because it was terrible. We go every year but after this past one,wont go anymore. Where we were watching from before parads was half over, lots of people including us left highly disdapointed and bored.
Long time resident, loved the variety and scene. Billy Miners, Spring Bock, Reata roof deck. Shame we lost anchors. Shasha ruined it. It’s no wonder why the Goggle Arts festival is a better option (Magnolia).
My son and his girlfriend, plus her sister, went to a movie downtown and parked in the garage. When the doors opened on their floor, a kid reached in and punched my son in the face. This was several years ago. It was a sucker punch by a coward. He was the son the sheriff back then. The police came to my door at 2:00 in the morning and wanted to know if I wanted to press charges. I said maybe but I’m going to bed.
While I’m disappointed, I can’t say I’m surprised. There’s only so much “charm” a city can hang on to when it’s trying so desperately to grow and become relevant as they are swiftly approaching 1 million residents.
I worked in Sundance Square for the Startlegram. Suffice to say, it’s met a similar demise. I loved the “buzz” of working downtown. My wife and I became Fort Worth residents. I proposed to her on NYE in the freezing rain in front at the plaza by the Jett building. FTW has always held a special place in my heart.
But it just got to be too much. A few years ago, we moved about 60 miles south to a much smaller town. With a much slower pace. While I miss what it used to be, I’m confident we’ll not be moving back.
I work downtown and Sundance a long time and so as Sasha began to tear it down The woman was killing it she’s even cutting the water features off so kids can’t play in it horrible woman it’s sad because downtown Sundance really means a lot to me but we hardly ever go doesn’t feel the same anymore
Downtown Ft Worth been died a long time ago I never liked it lived there 8 yrs at least they got Buffalo bros and a few restaurants left there no entrainment for any color of people. And it’s very prejudice that’s why I’m back in Houston it’s a good ole boy town with lots of kiss but bk people and lots of Mexicans and very little opportunities for young people that’s why crime is so high
I am a transplant; one of those “damn Yankees”. I first moved to Fort Worth in 1994. I had to leave in 2001, but I never lost my love of Fort Worth. Returning in 2013, I was introduced to the “new” downtown, where people wanted to come and shop, eat, be entertained or just hang out. Over the ensuing decade-plus, i have sadly watched the demise of the downtown area. Mismanagement seems to be the common thread, from the Sasha Bass debacle to the I tolerable mismanagement of the Panther Island project. Such potential wasted. Such mismanagement in the private sector not only results in termination, but “you will never work in this town again”. Yet the malfeasance by the Basses and the Graingers goes unchecked. Where is the City on this? Mattie Parker, why are you allowing this? City Council, how about you?
Jack Miller and L A saw this happening years ago. I remember LA being so upset at dinner with me and Andie (The best 4 top ever) talking about the demise of Sundance Square. But Jack being Jack knew it was time to pull the plug before the power went out.
Lived downtown Fort Worth from 2004 til 2010, first in the old Sanger Harris building then in Sundance West. Used to love sitting on the patio overlooking the Reata on a nice evening. Loved everything about living downtown FW, could walk to work (I was a landman) and then hang out in Tobacco Lane and smoke a cigar with the interesting gang that hung out there and then go to happy hour at Taverna where I met my future hubby. Never worried about safety because of the great Bass security. It’s a shame to hear mismanagement by Sasha Bass and covid had closed down the businesses I remember so well.
I feel for all of the Sundance folks and fans of downtown Fort Worth, I like so many of you love my city. For those of you that do go down town, there is the “non” Sundance area, that a few small and newer bars are trying to make the like the golden days of Fort Worth, and luckily are beyond the reach of said Sundance owners. I hope you’ll give them some love! The Archibald Bar (Craft cocktails, cool roof top lounge )with Son of a Baker Pizza inside. The revamped Basic Bar. The Sterling, craft cocktails ) Hogan Alley (Coffee Shop) Winchester Tavern (basement bar) Thompson’s Bookstore (cigar, speakeasy) All as stone’s throw from each other. Please give them some down town Fort Worth love, and don’t tell you know who…