Open Now ยท Tue โ Sat 8:00 AM โ 3:00 PM ยท Summer Nights & Light Bites returns this June ยท Live Music 8โ10 PM
Where Would You Like to Go?
Scratch-Made Daily
Two Brands. One Roof.
DFW Metroplex
Stories & Recipes
The Signature
One stubborn brine. Three generations of technique. The sandwich that turned customers into family โ and made Fort Worth pay attention.
Our Story
Chef Katrina Carpenter co-founded Carpenter's Cafรฉ & Catering with three generations of recipes, one stubborn brine, and the kind of hospitality that turns customers into family.
She survived a pandemic launch, Winter Storm Uri, and the years that closed most restaurants. Now she's building something bigger โ a cafรฉ whose business model is as soulful as the food.
The Commons
Carpenter's Cafรฉ is partnering with Soul Tea to build something Fort Worth hasn't seen yet โ a cafรฉ whose business model is as soulful as the food.
The menu hasn't changed. The recipes haven't changed. The soul hasn't changed. Carpenter's Cafe is still Chef Katrina's kitchen โ scratch-made food, Big Mama's recipes, the Smoky Chick, and the kind of hospitality that turns first-timers into regulars.
The Commons
Soul Tea brings the organic craft teas, proprietary water filtration, membership model, weekly programming, and staffing support โ all rooted in our mission to steep our community in Love, Hope, and Opportunity.
"Carpenter's Cafe has always been about more than food โ it's about gathering. Partnering with Soul Tea means we can now offer our community a place to sit down, slow down, and stay a little longer. That's everything to me."โ Chef Katrina Carpenter, Founder · Carpenter's Cafe
"Katrina has been feeding this community for years. Soul Tea is here to help her feed it for generations โ and I'm grateful that in doing so, Soul Tea finally has a home."โ Samantha Renz, Founder ยท Soul Tea
Executive Chef & Kitchen Partner ยท Carpenter's Cafรฉ
Co-founder of Carpenter's Cafรฉ & Catering. Three generations of recipes, one stubborn brine, and the kind of hospitality that turns customers into family. Survived a pandemic launch, Winter Storm Uri, and the years that closed most restaurants. Rotary Club Minority Business Award finalist.
Known For
Founder & Chief Love Officer ยท Soul Tea PBC
Beyond engineering, Samantha is the Chief Love Officer of Soul Tea, PBC โ a mission-driven tea company โ and its nonprofit arm, Soul Tea Foundation, which creates second-chance opportunities for individuals who are opportunity-challenged. Her ventures are united by a belief in the power of mentorship, steeping hope, and building bridges for others to thrive.
Known For
This is not just a cafรฉ โ it is a declaration that businesses can heal communities. Every membership, every plate, every Mastermind Monday funds a real person building a real future.
Every plate is crafted with love, served by people who've been seen, in a space designed for connection.
We hire opportunity-challenged individuals at a living wage and walk them into lasting hospitality careers โ through life skills, financial literacy, and the dignity of work that matters.
Weekday programs that turn the cafรฉ into a place where founders mastermind, nonprofits gather, and corporations invest in their team and their community at the same time.
Ready to take a seat at the table?
Membership
Four ways to join the Commons. Every membership feeds a second-chance hospitality program โ and gets you something soulful in return.
Membership Signups
Be the first to know when The Commons officially opens. Sign up for our membership notification list and we'll reach out the moment memberships go live โ no charges until launch day.
You're on the list! We'll notify you the moment memberships go live. No fees until launch.
The Week
From Monday morning masterminds to Sunday oxtails โ there's a reason to show up every week.
Friday
Summer Nights ยท Live Music
June
Public
Teaching Tuesday: Branding 101
June 16
Friday
Summer Nights ยท Local Artists
June
Come See Us
In the heart of Fort Worth's Near Southside โ soulful food, faith-filled atmosphere, and a table ready for you.
Address
1116 Pennsylvania Avenue
Fort Worth, TX 76104
Phone
Hours
Dine-In
Tuesday โ Saturday 8:00 AM โ 3:00 PM
Sunday & Monday Closed
Memberships, Masterminds, and Friday Night events have varying hours and will be posted as scheduled. Follow us on Instagram or check The Week for updates.
Team meetings, workshops, baby showers, birthdays, celebrations of life โ our private room seats up to 24 with full meal service and the kind of attention that lets you focus on your people.
Big Mama's Table
Corporate lunches, weddings, family reunions, church gatherings โ we cater across the DFW Metroplex with menus built around what your people love. From boxed lunches to full buffet service, every order honors three generations of recipes.
Request a Catering Quote
The Soulful Table
Recipes, behind-the-scenes moments, and the stories that make Carpenter's what it is.