New Businesses to Watch in 2024

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: Fort Worth is a great place to start a business! Fort Worthians love a local success story, and new business owners can rely on a network of mentors and support in our fair city. Check out these businesses that opened recently or are opening soon.

Edward Brown and James Talambas co-founded Panther City Pass with two goals: to help local businesses reach new customers and to provide a trusted source for Fort Worthians to keep up with the best eats, drinks, and entertainment options our city has to offer. After a soft launch in January, the co-founders plan to release a complete 16-bar Cocktail Guide to the public in February 2024. Other cities may offer passport programs, but Panther City Pass will provide something new — exclusive events at area bars and private spaces where guidebook purchasers can enjoy complimentary offerings and access to curated cultural events spotlighting local artists and artisans. Brown, an award-winning journalist, and Talambas, owner/founder of New Media Contemporary in Dallas, plan to expand their program with subscription options, smartphone apps, and, of course, new guidebook launches. (Taco guide, anyone?) Follow Panther City Pass on Instagram @PantherCityPass and PantherCityPass.com.

 

Husband-and-wife team Brian and Jennifer Kieta are proud to announce the vision that is UNION Cycle + Strength. Fitness guru Jennifer was a spin instructor for eight-and-a-half years at ZYN22 before it closed its doors in August of 2023. Husband Brian is a Fort Worth music producer, songwriter, and worship leader. UNION Cycle + Strength will be a place where people of all fitness levels will find community. Through this community, we will fight to find a stronger version of ourselves, inside and out. The Kietas plan to offer indoor cycling classes, strength training classes, and a unique combination of cycling and strength training, which will be the best workout experience in Fort Worth. Opening in August of 2024.

 

Being a new parent is amazing. It’s incredible. It’s also exhausting. Certified sleep consultant and mother of two Cristina Pilcher understands that. She knows that when the baby isn’t sleeping, no one is sleeping, so she founded 40 Wink Revolution to help new families get a good night’s sleep. Pilcher takes a collaborative, whole-family approach to sleep training. Instead of using a one-size-fits-all, cookie-cutter sleep training method, Pilcher works with families to customize their experiences. She stated, “It’s my goal to empower parents to make informed decisions about their baby’s sleep, schedule, and routines that will help them form healthy sleep habits that will last a lifetime.”

 

Former Fort Worth ISD teacher Dr. Jessica White’s life’s work is to inspire students to achieve their greatest potential regardless of their circumstances. That’s why she founded college and career consulting service EduSail in 2023. Using an innovative, collaborative approach to college and career counseling, Dr. White and the rest of the EduSail crew help middle and high school students find what’s best for them. EduSail wholeheartedly believes that every student should have access to the resources they need to become successful, and they pledge to advocate for equity while teaching their students to advocate for themselves as well.

 

Planning a wedding can be stressful, but Alexandra Rohloff is ready to help. Rohloff founded Happy Day Events, a full-service wedding and event planning and coordination service, so you don’t have to stress and can enjoy your engagement and wedding. From coming up with a concept for the wedding to helping the couple manage their budget and track RSVPs to being on hand to coordinate the rehearsal, wedding, and reception, Rohloff uses her passion for planning and her superb organizational skills to make sure that each and every couple has a truly happy day.

 

Licensed esthetician Alexa Rogers and nurse injector Samantha Reinsel, R.N., wanted to create a community of beauty providers to nurture a culture of innovation and collaboration. Serene Beauty offers everything from facials to fillers, lash extensions to hair extensions, permanent jewelry to permanent brow microblading. They also offer skinbetter science skincare products. Enjoy a full day of beauty pampering or come in for a medical weight loss consultation. The staff of Serene Beauty is ready to help you feel your most confident best.

 

In February of 2023, Laurie Birko opened Your Best Home Ace Hardware on Camp Bowie. While we all know that Ace is the place with the helpful hardware man, you might not know that this particular Ace is the place with the helpful hardware woman! That’s right. This is a woman-owned business. Your Best Home Ace Hardware is an anchor for the ongoing revitalization of the West Camp Bowie area, and Laurie is a proud member of the Fort Worth business community. With more than 70 years of family hardware store experience, a visit to Your Best Home Ace Hardware is like a visit to your neighbor.

 

Opened in 2023, La Palmilla Boutique Resort & Gardens offers an escape from the everyday. Founded by a group of friends with a vision of an extraordinary resort experience, La Palmilla provides luxury accommodations, as well as facilities for corporate, nonprofit, and church retreats and events. Casa del Rey, a beautiful Spanish Colonial chapel with stained glass created by Granbury artisan Cody Stromberg, is the perfect place for an intimate wedding. Located less than an hour from Fort Worth, La Palmilla offers a unique, personalized experience for every visitor.

 

With over 27 years combined experience, speech therapist Kim Dillon and feeding therapist Mary Breznik opened The Speech Source to help parents and caregivers of children who struggle with speech and feeding advocate for their children. They also recognize that professionals need support, and so through workshops, teacher training, professional coaching, and a podcast, Mary and Kim offer practical advice, strategies, and insight into child development, as well as support and understanding. They also offer preschool screenings and direct speech, language, and feeding therapy.

 

While owning your own home is the American dream, all the upkeep on that home can be overwhelming. Recognizing this, Rita McWaters founded Main + Tenacious to help homeowners learn how to take care of their most valuable investment. Main + Tenacious is a unique course that will teach you to tackle the projects you keep putting off and budget your time and money; you will also get a newsletter full of tips to help you build your home maintenance skills and be part of a community of other home maintainers. You’ll get everything you need except the wrench!

 

After moving back to DFW, TCU alumna Bri Waldrop launched her design company, Bri Lindsay Interiors, in June of 2023. Using her flair for incorporating your pieces into her designs, Bri offers services tailored to your needs and budget. If you’re not in the market for a full-service redesign, Bri Lindsay Interiors offers E-Design. Simply upload dimensions and photos of the space you would like to design and fill out an easy questionnaire, and Bri will provide you with a custom design concept board, a floor plan, and a list of shoppable links customized for your budget. The perfect way to liven up a room!

 

Jordan Heddins doesn’t think of herself as a photographer. She prefers to think of herself as a storyteller. And that’s why she started Jordan Heddin Photography. Jordan uses her skills with the camera to help you tell your story. She can help you document your journey from the engagement to the “I dos” to the arrival of your babies. Your senior will love celebrating their upcoming graduation with a senior portrait photoshoot. (Who doesn’t like a little glamor?) Most importantly, Jordan understands how important it is to document your family’s story.

 

Burst water popes. Broken sewer pipes. Flooding. The stuff of nightmares, right? Caleb and Casey Dill understand. They started The Dry Guy Restoration to help you restore your home and life after a disaster. Even the smallest amount of standing water can cause damage to the foundation and allow mold to grow. The Dry Guy is on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They will give you an estimate for the work and will bill your insurance company directly. Their motto is “Making bad days better,” and while dealing with water damage is difficult, the Dry Guy will make it better.

 

It’s funny how the right outfit can completely transform your attitude. Betsy Beaman understands this, and she started B. Beaman Stylist to help you transform your wardrobe into a statement of your style that will show the world who you really are. She will reboot your style, helping you curate outfits tailored to your needs and lifestyle. Betsey believes that style should support and enhance your individuality. Forget fashion dos and don’ts. Fashion should make you not only look good but also feel good.

 

Led by triple board-certified facial plastic and cosmetic surgeon and TCU alumna Emily Johnson, DO, 817 Surgical Arts offers an array of aesthetic procedures and plastic surgeries focusing on prevention, helping patients age gracefully, and empowering them to look and feel their best at every age. The practice offers chemical peels, skin resurfacing, radiofrequency microneedling, Botox®, fillers, and other non-invasive cosmetic services. Emily tailors each cosmetic treatment to meet, and often exceed, patients’ aesthetic goals. She welcomes her patients to 817 Surgical Arts and looks forward to helping them live their best life.

 

Together with her husband, Ashley Lilavois started Blind Tiger Bartending Company in 2023. From weddings to corporate events to birthday parties, celebrate with custom cocktails. Blind Tiger provides experienced bartenders who know how to make the latest yummy cocktails; they even take care of the setup and clean up. From the initial consultation to the end of the evening, Ashley and her team will guide you through the party so that you and your guests don’t have to do anything but have fun.

 

 

Lauren Manolescu is proud to announce that she is The Tie-Dyed Doula. This mother of five will help you through your pregnancy and post-partum experience, regardless of the outcome, with love, compassion, and support. She’s your sister, your best friend, your biggest fan, and your advocate all tied up in tie dye. She can teach a private childbirth class in the comfort of your home and offers unlimited support via phone, email, or text throughout your pregnancy and beyond. We’re not born knowing how to be moms. Lauren can help you make the first steps on this journey of a lifetime.

 

Is there anything more uncomfortable than an ill-fitting bra? No. There’s not. That’s why it’s so important to get fitted for a bra. Grace Grubic opened Wildflower Intimates to help women find the perfect bra. Our bodies change, girls, and the same bra you wore in college probably won’t fit you now that you’re in your, ahem, more mature years. Having children, gaining and losing weight, and that darned gravity all work to change our figures. Having a professional like the ones at Wildflower Intimates help you find your correct size and the best bra style can be a life-changing experience. Trust me on this, ladies.

 

Dying is as natural as giving birth. This is why lifelong friends and death doulas Taylor Bell and Lacy Buynak created The Art of Dying as a way to offer end-of-life education, guidance, and companionship within their local community and beyond. Just like a maternity doula supports and advocates for you throughout pregnancy and the birth experience, Lacy and Taylor offer a variety of services to support and advocate for you or your loved ones at the end of life. From pre-planning to sitting vigil, Taylor and Lauren help you and your loved ones at a time when help is most needed.

 

Glen Rose girl Nöelle Overturf is preparing to open her new art gallery, Nöelle Grace Designs. Nöelle always loved creating art, but it wasn’t until after the birth of her second child that she decided to start sharing her art on Instagram. Nöelle specializes in mixed media abstract and is best known for her bold brush strokes, unique color combinations, and texture. No two pieces are alike, and each piece is made with purpose. Her gallery on Park Lane will open in 2024.

 

 

Jenya Feldeer would like to introduce you to Jenya Renée, a luxury handbag line featuring beautiful, limited-edition designs crafted from exotic skins and premium leathers. Each handbag is created with a focus on quality and quiet luxury in a variety of beautiful, eye-catching colors. Jenya Renée will consist of six different handbag collections and accessories, all sure to grab the attention you deserve. Each design blends wearability and sophistication, is ready for any occasion, and adds a beautiful pop of personality to every outfit. “Let’s celebrate life’s every occasion with elegance and confidence, one handbag at a time.”

 

Katie Higgenbotham boasts that she has a decade of design experience, a passion for storytelling, and the talent to reheat her coffee for the third time – all while keeping up with her three little adventurers. She uses these skills to help you tell your brand’s story with Katie Higgenbotham Design. No matter what you need to make your business stand out, Katie can help with website design, logos, curated color and font palettes, social media cheat sheets, and more. Katie will guide you through the process and ensure your company stands out from the crowd.

 

What happens when three friends decide they need more space than their homes to work? If you’re Kelsey Sheets, Brandi Wood, and Catherine Cartie, you start Poppy House. The friends renovated an old house in downtown Aledo to serve as their studio and showroom. Although not a retail store, the Poppy House Ladies host pop-ups and events to showcase small businesses. So, follow them on Instagram to keep up to date on the latest events and support local artists and artisans.

 

 

Many small business owners need additional help but cannot take on the additional overhead. Ashley Duwe understands and created Escape Virtual Assistants to help. Ashley and her people use their organizational talents to help you with the day-to-day tasks essential to starting and running a business so that you can focus on growing and expanding. While virtual assistants aren’t a new concept, Ashley feels they are underutilized. Escape Virtual Assistants can help you find the balance between your work and your life that was missing.