JD’s Hamburgers in Fort Worth has seen more customers due to the nearby filming of “Landman.”
FORT WORTH, Texas — JD’s Hamburgers, a local restaurant in Fort Worth, has experienced increased patronage due to its proximity to the filming location of the Paramount+ series Landman. The show’s production has not only brought in crew members but also attracted fans eager to catch a glimpse of the set.
As the Texas lawmakers consider SB22, which would more than double film incentives in the Lone Star State, it’s a success story that comes with Hollywood building its sets here.
“We get a lot of crew members that come over and eat with us,” said Gigi Howell, owner of JD’s Hamburgers. “You’ll see people in the parking lot set up, taking photos over there. You see people stop by and take selfies with the building.”
That building is the “Patch Cafe,” the beloved watering hole in the series. When the show is filming, it looks just as it does on screen. When it wraps, it’s just an abandoned old auto shop at 9840 Camp Bowie West Blvd.
Landman, starring Billy Bob Thornton, is currently filming its second season in Fort Worth. The show’s production has contributed significantly to the local economy. According to the Fort Worth Film Commission, Taylor Sheridan’s projects have injected over $325 million into the Fort Worth economy, including expenditures on catering, equipment, props, and over 100,000 hotel room nights, per city leaders.
The economic impact of such productions has been a focal point in the Texas Legislature. Senate Bill 22, recently approved by that chamber’s lawmakers and now being considered by the Texas House, proposes increasing the Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program’s funding to $500 million every two years until 2035. The bill aims to attract more film and television productions to the state by offering substantial tax credits.
However, the bill includes stipulations regarding content. Productions deemed excessively profane or obscene may be ineligible for incentives. The Governor’s Office holds discretion over which films qualify for tax credits.
Back in Fort Worth, Howell has expanded her business by opening a second restaurant, Margie’s Italian Garden, across the street from JD’s.
“Those people who stop by always wander in,” Howell said. “And many of them will say, ‘We didn’t even know you all were out here.’ So thanks, Landman! We’ll take that.”