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Texas issues liquor license for Graham Elliot's Commodore Tavern in Fort Worth

Texas issues liquor license for Graham Elliot's Commodore Tavern in Fort Worth

Built World Fort Worth, TX local

The MasterChef judge and partner Charlie Rushton plan to open the Magnolia Avenue restaurant this fall as the start of a new hospitality group.

2 days ago: State issues liquor permit

Overview

Updated 1 hour ago

The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission issued a mixed beverage permit on October 2. It went to Commodore Magnolia LLC, the company behind the planned Commodore Tavern & Terrace at 1101 W Magnolia Ave in Fort Worth. The record shows the licensing step, not whether the restaurant has opened.

Celebrity chef Graham Elliot and Charlie Rushton, a former Far Out Hospitality corporate chef, announced the tavern in September. They plan to open in fall 2026 and use it as the foundation for a new hospitality group. The space was most recently Magnolia Wine Bar, which closed in April.

Why it matters

A state liquor permit moves Graham Elliot's planned Magnolia Avenue tavern closer to opening, his first venture with a new hospitality group.

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Key Indicators

1
Texas liquor license issued
Mixed beverage permit issued to Commodore Magnolia LLC on October 2, 2026.
Fall 2026
Announced opening target
Graham Elliot said the tavern plans to open in fall 2026.
April 2026
Prior tenant's closure
Magnolia Wine Bar closed at 1101 W Magnolia Ave in April 2026.

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People Involved

Organizations Involved

Timeline

2014 October 2026

6 events Latest: 2 days ago
Tap a bar to jump to that date
  1. State issues liquor permit

    Latest Regulatory

    Texas ABC issues mixed beverage permit to Commodore Magnolia LLC.

  2. License application filed

    Regulatory

    Application filed with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission for a mixed beverage permit.

  3. Commodore Tavern announced

    Announcement

    Graham Elliot and Charlie Rushton announce Commodore Tavern & Terrace, targeting fall 2026.

  4. Magnolia Wine Bar closes

    Closure

    The Magnolia Wine Bar closes at 1101 W Magnolia Ave, leaving the space vacant.

  5. Wine bar changes hands

    Ownership change

    Kent & Co. Wines sold to Marty and Marilyn Englander, rebranded The Magnolia.

  6. Kent & Co. Wines opens

    Opening

    Wine bar and specialty retail shop opens at 1101 W Magnolia Ave.

Scenarios

1

Commodore Tavern & Terrace opens this fall

Likely Resolves by End of 2026

Discussed by: CultureMap Fort Worth, Yahoo News and Elliot's own announcement all point to a fall 2026 opening.

The restaurant clears any remaining approvals and opens at 1101 W Magnolia Ave before the end of 2026. Elliot and Rushton begin serving their American classics menu, and the new hospitality group gets its first operating venue.

2

Opening slips into 2027

Possible Resolves by Q2 2027

Discussed by: No public prediction, but restaurant projects commonly run past announced dates.

Construction, permitting or staffing delays push the opening past fall 2026. The tavern opens in the first half of 2027 rather than on the announced timeline.

3

Project stalls, license lapses

Unlikely Resolves by Q2 2027

Discussed by: No one is predicting this; it's a low-probability fallback for any pre-opening venture.

The project fails to open. The Commodore Magnolia LLC permit is cancelled, surrendered or expires, and the Magnolia Avenue space goes to another tenant or stays vacant.

Historical Context

3 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

2014-2026

Kent & Co. Wines to Magnolia Wine Bar (2014-2026)

Kent & Co. Wines opened at 1101 W Magnolia Ave in 2014 as a wine bar, specialty retail shop and automotive drop-off service. It was sold to Marty and Marilyn Englander in 2019 and rebranded as The Magnolia, later operating as Magnolia Wine Bar until it closed in April 2026.

Then

The space sat empty after the April closure, leaving the corner available for a new tenant.

Now

The address has hosted two wine-bar concepts over 12 years; Commodore would be the third business there.

Why this matters now

Commodore takes over a spot where two prior hospitality concepts ran. Its staying power will determine whether the corner finally lands a lasting tenant.

2023

Le Margot and Elliot's Fort Worth run (2023)

Elliot helped launch Le Margot, a French fine dining restaurant at Fort Worth's Trinity Commons. Texas Monthly later named it one of the best new restaurants in the state.

Then

Le Margot raised the profile of both Elliot and Far Out Hospitality.

Now

It gave Elliot a track record of successful Fort Worth openings before he started his own venture.

Why this matters now

Commodore is Elliot's first Fort Worth restaurant built around a company he co-owns from the start, not a Far Out brand.

2026

Magnolia Avenue's shifting restaurant mix (2026)

New food businesses opened on Magnolia Avenue in 2026, including ice cream shop Salt + Straw and Sweet Stacks, a souffle pancake cafe. The street also lost the original Heim Barbecue location.

Then

The corridor gained new draws for customers while losing an anchor barbecue spot.

Now

Magnolia Avenue remains a busy but competitive restaurant row in Fort Worth.

Why this matters now

Commodore enters a street that's actively churning tenants, competing for the same neighborhood crowd.

Sources

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