Ice Cream Hero

Fort Worth billionaire steps in to save Blue Bell homemade vanilla

Blue Bell ice cream has been off the shelves since April.

Photo courtesy of Blue Bell Ice Cream

A billionaire from Fort Worth has stepped in to aid the besieged Blue Bell Creameries. According to an announcement from the Brenham-based ice cream company, Texas businessman Sid Bass has become an investor and partner.

"We are pleased Sid Bass has made a significant investment with our company," said Blue Bell president Paul Kruse. "The additional capital will ensure the successful return of our ice cream to the market and our loyal customers."

Blue Bell has been shut down since April, after a multistate outbreak of listeriosis was linked to its ice cream; 10 people became ill and three died. The contaminated products have been found at the company's Texas and Oklahoma plants.

According to the Fort Worth Star Telegram, the company is planning trial runs at its Alabama plant but has not set a date for when its ice cream will be available to the public.

Sid Richardson Bass graduated from Yale University and Stanford Graduate School of Business before joining the family business founded by his great-uncle, Sid Richardson, and his father, Perry Richardson Bass.

Bass is active in the family oil and gas and carbon black businesses. He has managed long-term investments and worked closely with management teams throughout his career, notably the Walt Disney Company. He is also, apparently, a homemade vanilla fan.

"We are excited to be a part of the Blue Bell brand and family," Bass said in a statement. "Blue Bell is the quality leader in the ice cream industry. We believe quality is the principle attribute that ensures the success, growth and longevity of a business."

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Sports bar goals

Shark Club sports bar from Dallas Stars owner suits up in Northlake

Photo courtesy of Shark Club

Shark Club burgers and beer.

A sports bar from the owner of the Dallas Stars is ready to make its debut in Northlake: Shark Club Sports Bar & Grill, the Canadian-born chain owned by Dallas Stars owner Tom Gaglardi, will open at 13850 Chadwick Pkwy. inside the new Children's Health StarCenter Multisport complex.

Opening day is Friday, August 7, according to a release.

The restaurant is the brand's second U.S. location, following a Plano outpost that opened in 2019. It was first announced in 2025 as part of the massive youth sports complex in Northlake, a Denton County community about 40 miles northwest of Dallas.

According to the release, the 5,000-square-foot restaurant is designed to serve families, athletes, coaches, and sports fans visiting the Dallas Stars-affiliated sports complex. It features 37 televisions inside, plus additional TVs on an outdoor patio overlooking the pickleball courts.

Though specific menu details have not yet been revealed, diners can expect many of the dishes served at the Plano location, they say, with shareable appetizers, burgers, sandwiches, entrées, and cocktails, plus some location-specific additions. The Plano Shark Club serves globally-inspired dishes such as shishito peppers and butter chicken, alongside classic American bar food, bowls, salads, and pot roast.

Happy hour specials will be offered twice a day, Monday through Friday, from 3-7 pm and 10 pm-close.

Wings and nachos at Shark Club.Photo courtesy of Shark Club

“Sports have always had a unique ability to bring people together, but the most meaningful moments often happen before the game starts and long after the final whistle,” Gaglardi says in the release. “Our goal was to create a place where families, teams and fans can connect, celebrate and build traditions of their own. North Texas remains an important growth market for Shark Club, and we’re excited to continue building our presence here and across the U.S.”

The restaurant is part of the Children's Health StarCenter Multisport, a 225,000-square-foot facility that includes two sheets of ice for hockey, eight basketball courts that can convert into 16 volleyball courts, pickleball courts, and community programming. The complex is the newest addition to the Dallas Stars' growing StarCenter network.

Shark Club was founded in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1993. Gaglardi also co-owns both the restaurant chain Moxies and the Craft Restaurant and Beer Market in Dallas' Preston Center.

Grand opening festivities on August 7 will begin at 4 pm with a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by the Metroport Chamber of Commerce, followed by dinner and happy hour.

Once it opens, Shark Club Northlake will be open daily: 11 am-11 pm Monday-Thursday, 11 am-12 am Friday, 10 am-12 am Saturday, and 10 am-11 pm Sunday.

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