A sports bar known for karaoke nights and dart boards is set to fill one of the last major vacancies at Bedford’s Harwood Shopping Center, the strip mall reshaped around the world’s leading firearms auction house. Scooter’s Sports Bar & Grill has signed a 10-year lease for 8,168 square feet at the center, with plans to invest roughly $1 million into upgrading its space and open by midyear 2027.
The deal was announced by Bradford Commercial Real Estate Services, according to The Business Press, which reported that Binkley Restaurant Group inked the lease on behalf of the sports bar chain. Chris Kennedy, vice president of Bradford Commercial Real Estate Services, called it “a cool concept and a big win for the next phase” of the property’s ongoing transformation, per the outlet’s report. Harwood Shopping Center sits at 3508 Harwood Rd. in Bedford, within the Mid-Cities submarket, and spans 127,121 square feet on 11 acres with direct access and unobstructed signage visibility from Texas 121.
Scooter’s already operates locations in Arlington and Garland, and its Garland outpost has run for more than 16 years under the same ownership as a neighborhood sports-broadcast and karaoke spot, according to Giftly. The Bedford location is expected to offer the brand’s signature mix of DJs, karaoke, dancing, widescreen TVs, dart boards, pool tables, bars, dining space, and patio seating, the same amenities the chain features at its existing sites. Planned menu items reported by CultureMap Fort Worth include a Spicy Jalapeño Burger, country fried steak, catfish or Buffalo shrimp baskets, Irish nachos, quesadillas, and a dozen varieties of wings.
A Former Walmart Anchors the Overhaul
The retail center’s transformation traces back to Rock Island Auction Co., which acquired Harwood Shopping Center in 2022 and undertook a multimillion-dollar renovation of an 85,899-square-foot former Walmart to serve as its primary Texas venue, the property’s centerpiece. The Illinois-based company, founded in 1993, operated in Illinois for 30 years before celebrating the official grand opening of its 3600 Harwood Road facility in Bedford in December 2023, according to a PR Newswire release. The facility now includes a 19,000-square-foot preview hall where the public can inspect collectible firearms, militaria, and historical artifacts ahead of multi-day auction events, per a report from DuPont Registry…