Blimpie and Cold Stone Opened Fort Worth Storefront
The dual-branded location provides operators with a case study in co-branding strategies within the local retail sector.
Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Openings & Closings
Live Poll
Would you prefer visiting a combined sub and ice cream shop over a single-brand location?
Blimpie and Cold Stone Creamery launched a shared storefront at the Beechwood Shopping Center in north Fort Worth. The co-branded location, situated along Hwy 114, comes after the 61-year-old sandwich chain shuttered multiple sites across the Dallas area in 2025.
Why it matters
This move highlights a consolidation strategy for legacy franchise brands aiming to capture multiple dayparts in high-traffic retail corridors. For local operators, the pairing serves as a test for stabilizing unit economics through shared overhead costs near major traffic drivers like Tanger Outlets.
The new site represents a fresh expansion for the 61-year-old Blimpie brand, which was founded in 1964. This opening arrives following a contraction phase in 2025 where the chain closed several locations throughout the Dallas area.
The players
Blimpie
A 61-year-old submarine sandwich franchise that operates globally through a model of licensed sub-shops.
Cold Stone Creamery
An international ice cream parlor chain that franchises retail locations offering custom-mixed frozen desserts.
The details
The storefront utilizes a dual-brand model to maximize square footage within the Beechwood Shopping Center. By sharing common operational infrastructure, the brands attempt to mitigate the overhead costs that previously led to exits from the regional market. The location sits near Hwy 114 to leverage proximity to Tanger Outlets, targeting consumer traffic that favors convenience-oriented quick-service options.
Timeline
1964: Blimpie sub sandwich chain was founded.
2025: Blimpie closed multiple North Texas locations.
September 2026: New storefront opened.
Market Landscape
The storefront's opening marks a departure from the 2025 closure of Dallas-area Blimpie locations by centralizing operations into a high-density, co-branded site. This shift reflects broader industry efforts to optimize footprint efficiency as legacy fast-casual brands navigate competitive saturation.
Operators in the north Fort Worth area should monitor the foot traffic patterns at the Beechwood Shopping Center to assess the viability of the co-branded model. Watch for shifts in procurement and labor requirements as franchisors increasingly rely on shared-service layouts to sustain regional growth.
The takeaway
Legacy chains are pivoting toward dual-branded storefronts to lower overhead while attempting to maintain market presence in high-traffic commercial zones. Local business owners should track the performance of these shared-cost models as a benchmark for potential consolidation in their own retail portfolios.
Further reading
For more on shifts in local retail, visit Openings & Closings.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Cross Timbers Gazette | Southern Denton County | Flower Mound | News.
Live Poll
Would you prefer visiting a combined sub and ice cream shop over a single-brand location?
