new here?
local soon.
New Locals is a free guide and community for your first year in Fort Worth: what to do first, where to go and who to meet. Every fact is checked against the official source.
When did you get here?
- Texas gives new residents deadlines for your car and license.Pick your move-in date to see yours.
Every local was new once.
Moving is three jobs at once. Here they are in the order they happen.
You're in good company. About 55,000 people living in Fort Worth today lived outside Tarrant County a year ago. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2025 American Community Survey 1-year, table B07003.
- Week one
Settle in
Utilities, license, car, trash day. The paperwork Texas expects, in order, with your deadlines worked out.
Open the checklist - Month one
Find your places
A grocery store, a mechanic and a vet you can count on, plus the vintage shops, bars and stages a "near me" search won't show you.
Browse the guide - Year one
Find your people
Run clubs, trivia nights, improv classes and a monthly meetup for people who just moved here.
Meet people
101 places to start with, all checked open Oct 31
Picked for people who just moved here, with local independents first. Chains only show up where they're the practical choice.
- Coffee & third places
Avoca Coffee Roasters (Magnolia)
Fort Worth coffee roaster with a cafe on Magnolia Avenue and other shops, including West 7th and the Stockyards.
- Groceries & markets
Hao's Grocery & Cafe
Asian grocery and cafe from chef Hao Tran on St. Louis Avenue, just south of downtown.
- Hardware & home
Your Best Home Ace Hardware
Family-owned Ace Hardware franchise with plumbing, paint, lawn-and-garden and a gift shop.
- Health & pharmacy
Daniel Drug
Independent, privately owned pharmacy on West 7th offering compounding.
- Thrift & vintage
Doc's Records & Vintage
Record store with vinyl, CDs and cassettes, plus booths of vintage clothing and collectibles.
- Makers, gifts & books
Recluse Books
Independent South Main bookstore stocking bestsellers plus indie and local authors.
See these on the map Browse all 101
Or start with what you need
Gold marks a locally owned business.
Meet the other new locals
Friends in a new city come from showing up somewhere every week. These groups meet on a schedule, and anyone can join.
Social Running Club - We Run Wednesdays
Free community run/walk for all paces from the Clearfork Trailhead on Wednesday evenings, with occasional after-hours run-and-brunch socials.
North Running Crew
Free, social running and walking club serving north Fort Worth and Alliance; all paces welcome and about a decade old.
Maple Branch Wednesday Trivia
Weekly brewery trivia at 7pm, mostly general knowledge with a themed night each month; in-house beers and a kitchen on site.
Big Laugh Monday Open Mic
Weekly stand-up open mic in the club's downstairs room; $2 tickets so audiences can watch for cheap, with performer sign-up online.
Big Laugh Level 1 Improv Course
Beginner improv course covering games and scene work, ending with a free student showcase on the Big Laugh stage.
Stage West Adult Short-Form Improv
Four-week adult short-form improv class for all levels at Stage West Theatre; the fall session is closed, so watch for the next one.
A free monthly meetup for people new to Fort Worth, at a different local spot each time. Leave your email for an invite to the first one.
The New Locals letter
A short email for your first year in Fort Worth: one thing to get done, a few places worth knowing and what's on soon.
take it with you.
The New Locals app counts your days here, keeps your checklist and deadlines, saves your places and gives you a Local Since card. No account needed: add it to your home screen.
Run a local business?
People who just moved here are choosing their grocery store, their bar and their mechanic right now. Being in the guide is free and editorial. Partners can also sponsor the letter or host a meetup.