> At a Glance
> – January 8, 2024 gas explosion at Sandman Signature Fort Worth Hotel injured 21 people
> – La’Creamian café, open just six months, lost foot traffic when sidewalks closed
> – Hotel reopening delayed from late 2025 to summer 2026
> – Why it matters: Downtown merchants still face barricades and construction two years on, prolonging recovery
Two years after a suspected gas leak leveled parts of the Sandman Signature Fort Worth Hotel, nearby small businesses say the blast’s after-shocks linger longer than expected.
Explosion Shuts Down Newcomer Café
Lisa Jackson, owner of La’Creamian ice-cream-and-coffee shop around the corner, had just hit her stride after a half-year of building clientele.
> “We were open for six glorious months,” Jackson recalled. “They didn’t know who we were.”
Plans to hire for 2024 crashed soon after 3 p.m. on January 8, 2024, when the explosion blew out hotel walls and littered Houston Street with debris.
- Entire block closed to cars and pedestrians
- Customers couldn’t reach La’Creamian’s West 8th Street door
- Revenues froze while bills kept coming
City Help Arrives, Hurdles Remain
Months later:
- Grants and tens of thousands in relief funds flowed in
- A block party co-hosted by the city lured shoppers back
Jackson credits the aid for survival.
> “It allowed us to get over the hard, hard part and still be here for the community.”
Yet scaffolding and construction rigs still dominate the view from her storefront in 2026.
| Timeline | Target Re-Open | Current Status |
|---|---|---|
| Original | Late 2025 | Missed |
| Revised | Summer 2026 | Pending |
Voices From the Aftermath
Vertiasha Tickles, formerly employed nearby, learned of the blast via text.
> “A friend had texted me and was like, ‘Hey, your old job exploded.’ And I was like, ‘It did what?'”
Jackson’s team coped by leaning on one another.
> “We cried a lot. And we huddled a lot. It was definitely an uncertain time. But God was good to us.”
Key Takeaways
- 21 people were injured in the 2024 hotel explosion
- Small businesses lost months of foot traffic when streets closed
- City grants and promotional events proved crucial for survival
- Hotel reopening pushed back another six-plus months
Until the Sandman’s doors finally reopen, Jackson and her neighbors will keep serving scoops and coffee amid the clang of rebuilding.
