Shipping & Receiving had played host to many Fort Worth musicians since opening in 2013 — even local legend Leon Bridges got his start performing at the venue. The Near Southside hangout was born after architect Bob Kelly convinced then-owner Tom Reynolds to put a bar and performance space in the spot at the bottom of the Supreme Golf Warehouse building.
“We were standing out on the street looking east, and you have that red brick street, and it has the wrought iron fence around the patio area. Suddenly, it was like, ‘Oh, my God, we can build an outdoor stage there. We'll have another stage on the side,’ and then I was off and running,” Reynolds says. One of Reynolds' partners tracked down the bar itself — legend has it that it was the very same bar that the infamous Jack Ruby used to frequent.
If all good things come to an end, COVID-19 spelled the finale for Shipping & Receiving. The business closed in March 2020 when all bars shut their doors, and continued restrictions on gathering sizes meant that it didn’t make financial sense to open back up. While the pandemic kept the bar closed, building co-owner Eddie Vanston and Reynolds — despite reluctance from Reynolds — ended up selling their stake in the building, including the Shipping & Receiving space. Reynolds did not disclose the names of the new owners.
That could have been where the bar’s story ended for good. But Reynolds is committed to keeping the spirit of Shipping & Receiving alive — and he’s ready for a new venture.
“You know, I'm the kind of guy that unless I get a real shove, I've stayed at the party too long. And I really feel like this was perhaps a higher power that is moving me along — like, go to your big project, you need to do that. I really believe that. Because it needs to be done,” Reynolds says.
The big project? Well, since 1997, Reynolds has owned the old Fort Worth Recreation Building at 215 W. Vickery Blvd. His new hope is to revitalize the space and commit to serving the arts community of Fort Worth through the location. He has dreams for a mezzanine as well as functionality for music performances, film screenings, dance performances, and visual artists who want to show their work.