Reading the Room(s): Thompson’s Bookstore Preps for Grand Reopening

Fort Worthians will soon have a chance to step back into the Roaring Twenties at the newly renovated speakeasy located in the basement of Thompson’s Bookstore in downtown. 

The speakeasy marks just one of three newly renovated floors in the historic Vybek building at 900 Houston St. To commemorate the completion of this multimillion-dollar, yearlong renovation, Thompson’s will host a grand reopening from 5-11 p.m. on July 29.

The Vybek building, according to Fort Worth Architecture, was built in 1910. Fort Worth Pharmacy was the building’s first tenant, followed by Gross Clothing Co., which did business there from 1913-18. Atlantic Coffee Co., a cut-rate drug store, and Thompson’s Bookstore in the early 1970s followed.

Thompson’s Bookstore opened in 1972 and closed in 1993. Lore says the building was a brothel at one time, a good possibility considering its proximity to the red-light Hell’s Half Acre.

Thompson’s Bookstore Cocktail Lounge and Speakeasy, as it’s known today, opened in the spring of 2015. Since then, the second and third floors of the building have been used for various purposes all devoid of a common link.

That was until the AngMar Retail Group had a chance to purchase the two upper levels while already revamping the first floor and basement sections of the building.

AngMar owns the bar, which was looking to increase capacity and functionality.

“Before the renovation, Thompson’s had a capacity of 65 people at max,” says Clinton Bohn, AngMar director of marketing. “With this new expansion, there’s room for over 200 people if each floor is utilized.”

For nearly a year, these spaces may have been completely renovated, the unique art deco style, though, intact.

“We went into this with the goal to keep the historical value on each floor intact but with a sense of still being modern,” Bohn says.

Fort Worth Magazine took a sneak peek on each floor to experience the new atmosphere firsthand.

The basement area will still be used as a speakeasy, secret entrance and all, only with a fresh new look. This is only fitting, Bohn says, since this space was used as a speakeasy during the height of Prohibition in the 1920s. And to honor this, the basement section has been made to look like something out of the 1920s, gangster portraits and all. When open, attendees can enjoy custom craft cocktails expertly made by some of Fort Worth’s most talented mixologists all while taking in the ambiance of a bygone era.

The street level bar will continue to offer refreshing beverages, while boasting, of course, a collection of carefully curated books, as a bar that was once a bookstore should, right? Visitors will have a chance to enjoy a literary atmosphere that seamlessly merges the joy of reading with the pleasure of imbibing on a well-crafted drink.

The second floor has been set up as an event space with room for gatherings, literary events, and celebrations. This well-lit space includes a bar top for serving drinks or food and a recessed buffet table on the southwest wall. Plus, there’s the bonus of the downtown skyline in full display out of each window.

The third floor has been transformed into a cigar lounge, complete with a selection of high-end liquors, leather chairs, oversized couches, and a giant humidor full of various brands of cigars.

And when we say giant, we mean it. The humidor, which has been built in several sections, takes up almost the entire southeast wall. The décor is comprised of dark colors that collide with copper and gold accents.

“We’ve done our best to honor the historical values of the building all while adding space so more people can come in and enjoy the unique atmosphere it has to offer,” Bohn says.