Chef Tim Love’s Urban Western Empire

1978, Denton, Texas: An eight-year-old cuts mistletoe from trees and sells them around his suburban neighborhood for a dollar so that he can play video games at the local arcade.

The hustle has been strong with celebrity chef Tim Love since his early childhood. The youngest of seven children, he had a lot to prove. Selling mistletoe, as opposed to the standard door-to-door candy bars schtick, shows that Love has been thinking out of the box since as far back as he can remember. Inherently competitive, this theme would follow him throughout his life.

Twenty-five years ago, what would arguably be known as Love’s biggest innovation emerged in the form of Lonesome Dove, a Western-cuisine fine dining restaurant in Fort Worth’s historic Stockyards. No one had ever done anything like it at the time. Love not only introduced diners to wild game they likely hadn’t tried before, but also added unique twists to his technical mastery. A new term, “Urban Western,” was born, and a quarter of a century (and counting) of innovation was set in motion.

“I do remember exactly what the concept was when I opened 25 years ago, which was to design a very focused, ingredient-driven fine dining experience, really showing off what Texas is—using ingredients like wild fish and game.” Love’s direction was a natural one, as he has enjoyed hunting and fishing since he was a kid. Lonesome Dove received many significant accolades nationwide, and Love became a celebrity, appearing on The Today Show (15 times!) and Good Morning America, competing (and winning) on the popular TV show Iron Chef, publishing a cookbook, launching YouTube digital series Love Bites and winning awards, all while raising a family in his beloved Fort Worth.

Redevelopment of the Fort Worth Stockyards took shape in the form of Mule Alley. The $175 million project, initiated in 2018, transformed the early 20th-century livestock barns into a dynamic mixed-use district that honors the area’s Western heritage. Love, who calls Fort Worth home, had a big part in the project, and his unique style and influence are everywhere: the stunning Tex-Mex-focused Paloma Suerte, traditional tapas-and-cocktails bar Ático, timeless Italian restaurant Caterina's, Love Shack burger joint, Woodshed Smokehouse, and indulgent members-only dining club La Lotería.

Besides signature eateries, in 2004, Love acquired the legendary White Elephant Saloon (in 1887, an infamous gunfight took place outside). He also established Tannahill's Tavern & Music Hall. Named after his son, the live music venue with a 1,000-person capacity also features a bar and restaurant called T’s Tavern as well as a boot-branding station and a retail space that showcases The Love Collection, Chef Tim Love’s curated line of merchandise. This collection includes apparel, kitchen essentials, and gift items, reflecting the brand's Western-inspired aesthetic.

Visionaries are a dime a dozen. The ability to bring concepts to fruition requires something much bigger, and for Love, the secret sauce is his talent for not only conceptualizing his unconventional ideas but for assembling the teams to bring his specific visions, right down to the most minute detail, to life.

When talking about his projects past, present, or future, Love always refers to his team; never just to himself. “If you really want to build a business, you’ve got to seek people out, teach people, and rely on them. It doesn't mean you can't be involved, but you’ve got to have some reliance on some real go-getters,” Love says. “Great ideas are spectacular, but people executing them, that's really where the bread is buttered.”

Love places a huge importance on loyalty and morale. When his team members reach their four-year and eight-year marks with the company, Love gifts them a pair of custom boots by Fort Worth’s own Ponder Boot Company, and at the 12-year mark, a pair of custom, handmade M.L. Leddys, another Fort Worth heritage brand.

Chef Tim Love’s innovation isn’t limited to the stellar additions he made to the Stockyards. Next, Love focused on the area along Fort Worth’s Trinity River called the River District, where he opened the city’s first micro-resort, Hotel Otto. Named for the Italian word for “eight,” the hotel features eight modern, beautifully appointed bungalows converted from 20-foot shipping containers. The on-site Italian restaurant, Gemelle, made Texas Monthly’s list of Best New Restaurants in 2020, perhaps in part due to its 10,000-square-foot vegetable garden.

Love’s newest concept may be his most out-of-the-box one yet—a croquet club and cocktail bar along the Trinity Trail in the River District called Stewart’s Croquet & Cocktails. Love’s idea was to share his cherished memories with guests of playing croquet at family gatherings on his father, Stewart’s, farm.  

Restaurants, bars, venues, hotels, private clubs… ultimately, for Love, it all comes down to hospitality. “We want people to be elated that they came to Fort Worth. And that means it could be one of our servers, one of our bartenders, or the chef who did something special for them. You want them to feel welcomed and taken care of, and then to associate you and your team with that experience. Running into me on the street and having a nice conversation—I'll buy you a cocktail. When you have an investment in a city like I do, you're also invested in the rest of the people and the teams that are here. So, I try to do the best that I can to go out and visit those places and say hi to everybody.”

It comes as no surprise that Love is far from finished. In his typical fashion, he has big plans to continue the redevelopment of the Stockyards to become a world-class destination. The area is currently entering phase two of redevelopment, and Love is looking forward to continuing to leave his mark. “I want people to come to Fort Worth and say, ‘This is a badass city.’ And if my team and I somehow get mentioned in that sentence, that's my goal.”

——————

In honor of Lonesome Dove Western Bistro’s 25th Anniversary, Chef Tim Love will celebrate the landmark milestone with a 25-course tasting experience. This exclusive, limited-time menu pays homage to the bold flavors, wild game, and Urban Western cuisine that have cemented Lonesome Dove’s place in Fort Worth’s culinary history. Guests will embark on a curated journey through proteins and ingredients inspired by Sea, Air, Land, Beef, and Sweets, offering a dynamic exploration of technique, artistry, and innovation. This special event is available for a limited time—May 2 through May 6, 2025—by reservation only, and is $250 per person, with additional drink pairings available.