Musume Will Return To Fort Worth

Dallas-based Musume brought its magnificent Asian fusion and sushi concept to Fort Worth at the end of June 2023, opening a location inside the new Sandman Signature Hotel, which had completely renovated the historic Waggoner Building in downtown. Within six months of opening, a massive natural gas explosion blew out the basement level and first floor. But, by the end of this year, Musume will return to the Sandman Signature Hotel in Fort Worth, welcoming guests to dine there once more.

“Enough time has gone by, we can talk about it now,” co-founder Josh Babb of Musume, tells Fort Worth Digital Diary exclusively. “Two of the eleven employees who were in the building that day were severely injured. Their lives will never be the same. The investigation found it was a gas regulation failure. Five PSAs is normal pressure. It was at 45 PSAs at the time of the explosion, filling the space with gas until it exploded.”

The blast destroyed the first floor of the Sandman Signature Hotel (where the hotel lobby and Musume’s bar had been), and the basement level (where the restaurant was located). The devastating scene made local and national headlines on January 8, 2024.

“After 30 years in the restaurant business, I thought I had seen it all,” he says. “You don’t plan for something like this.”

While lawsuits are still ongoing, Babb and his team at Musume Dallas held a fundraiser to aid their injured and displaced Fort Worth employees.

“We raised $50,000 and divided it up equally among them,” Babb says. “I’m proud of that. All we can do is just continue to try to do the right thing. When we reopen, we want to hire everyone who worked there before.”

Musume Rising From The Ashes

Construction is underway on the new space in Fort Worth. The Sandman Signature Hotel and its premier restaurant, Musume, had to work within the confines of the historic Waggoner Building (circa 1920) located at 810 Houston Street, when it first opened in 2023.

The 20-story Waggoner Building held sway as one of the tallest in the Southwest at the time of its unveiling. The U-shaped building is a similar form to The Fort Worth Club of the same period. It was originally utilized as a bank ― first by the National Bank of Commerce, then by the Continental Bank and Trust. So, the details of its marble lobby with original teller windows, and wrapped mezzanine overlooking it, had to be incorporated into the design. As well as its basement level bank vault, which Musume had fashioned into a one-of-a-kind tatami room for private dining.

The explosion changed nearly everything, including the footprint of the first-floor lobby and mezzanine.

“For instance, the old teller windows are gone, so the upstairs lobby bar configuration will look completely different,” Babb says. “But, the bank vault was not damaged at all ― it withstood the blast without an inch of damage, so it will look exactly the same.”

The basement-level restaurant was accessed by a staircase, which will be redone, and the rest of the restaurant will still mimic the same footprint, though with new finishes and furnishings.

And, Musume will be opening a third location as well this year. It will arrive at The Star in Frisco by August.

The Return of Musume Will Be a Welcome Addition To Fort Worth

One of the complaints that Fort Worth foodies consistently lodge is our dearth of Asian cuisine. While we have some stand-outs, including the likes of Hao’s Grocery & Café, Teddy Wong’s, Tokyo Café, The Japanese Palace, and Hatsuyuki Hand Roll ― they are too few and far between.

That’s why Musume’s arrival in town was a revelation, with its stellar sushi creations that go far beyond your average classic or signature rolls, crafted by its sushi chef Yuzo Toyama. Plus, the rest of the indulgent and unexpected menu, including steaks prepared with soy reduction and a creamy peppercorn sauce, yakisoba fried noodle dishes, and interesting seafood mains like the amazing roasted sea bass in a champagne uni reduction.

“The customizable, tableside ramen will continue when we reopen,” Babb promises. “About 90 percent of our menu will be the same as it was before.”

Along with its inspiring Japanese whiskey selection, Musume’s sake program remains one of the largest in North America. While most Texans have only been exposed to a warmed bottle of Gekkeikan sake in their lifetime, there is so much more to explore. Musume’s resident Sake Sommelier is there to introduce you to the full range, from small batch rarities to unfiltered flavor profiles, which are among my personal favorites. The rice-based spirit is gaining popularity, and Musume’s program is one of the most notable around.

“Everyone in Fort Worth has been so gracious to us, that’s the best word I can use to describe it ― gracious,” Musume’s co-founder Josh Babb says. “We can’t wait to reopen.”

Look for Musume’s triumphant return to the Sandman Signature Hotel before the end of the year.