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Who owns Bar9Eleven? Texas bar slammed for makeover with 9/11 theme, owner defends it as 'part of our history'

The Forth Worth restaurant was remodeled in 2013, but has only recently got widespread attention after one Twitter user posted photos of it online

A Forth Worth, Texas restaurant has drawn massive ire on social media after its rather unconventional name and theme came to light. Opened in 2013, Bar9Eleven has become a tribute to the thousands of people who lost their lives on that very same day. But while the owner insists it is simply an effort to get visitors to remember, others are less pleased.

The bar has quickly drawn fury on social media after its unusual theme was highlighted by one Twitter user. As images have begun to circulate, the bar has been widely slammed for capitalizing on one of America's darkest days. But it's not a new redesign, the bar was remodeled to extensively feature 9/11 in 2013. Even back then, it was extensively covered by local media but didn't receive the backlash it is getting now.

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Nonetheless, the owner is defiant social media critics won't affect him or the restaurant. In an interview with the Daily Mail, owner Brent Johnson dived into why the theme was picked, and why it won't change.

Who owns Bar9Eleven?

The owner of the bar has been identified as 62-year-old Brent Johnson. Not much is known about Johnson, who appears to keep a relatively low profile. We did find a LinkedIn profile in his name. According to that profile, Johnson was the Director of Operations at M Crowd Restaurant Group between 1996 and 2001. He then decided to open his own restaurant and did so with Rio Mambo on September 11, 2001, in Fort Worth. The restaurant became so big, he opened three more over the years in Burleson, Weatherford, and Colleyville. 

Alongside opening his own bar, Johnson was made President of the RM Restaurant Group that same year. Then in 2013, he remodeled and reopened Bar9Eleven Fort Worth, right next to his original Rio Mambo. In 2018, he also became the President of The RIM Craft Draft Eats, another bar located in Burleson, Texas. 

Not much is known about Johnson's personal life, other than the fact that he is married to Rosanne. He doesn't appear to have a Facebook profile. 

9/11 themed 'so no one forgets'

A plaque at the restaurant provides some details on what happened the day the bar opened. "Enthusiastically I answer the phone with pride and anticipation. Rosanne (my wife) informs me that reports out of New York indicate some type of aircraft has collided with the World Trade Center but details were “sketchy”. Honey, our restaurant will open in less than two and a half hours. I cannot talk on the phone," it reads. 

That plaque is far from the only one. The restaurant has several others as well, in what Johnson calls as an effort to ensure "no one forgets". According to him, the theme was finalized after he read a statistic that claimed that around 80% of Americans had never heard of 9/11. "We were remodeling the bar so I said “We’re not going to forget. And people who come into this restaurant aren’t going to forget'," he told the Mail. He added, "My goal is very simple. Don’t forget. No more, no less." 

A 2016 review of the bar said, "The concrete décor is probably the only 9/11ish thing you’d notice." Beyond that, the bar is filled with photographs and plaques for visitors to browse. The review summed up, "If it’s possible to tastefully theme a bar after a national catastrophe, Bar9Eleven’s owners have done it."

'Work of creative nonfiction' slammed

That reviewer might have felt nothing was wrong with the bar, but social media seemed to disagree. The bar was brought back in the spotlight thanks to one Twitter user, who posted, "Drove by this bar and though “huh I wonder what that’s about”. Turns out it’s about exactly what you think." Within hours, that tweet blew up to over 19k likes, and 1,500 retweets. It also inspired quite the conversation, sparked by the individual saying, "Blown away by this work of creative nonfiction depicting the owner of a tex mex restaurant in north texas as the main character of our nation's darkest day."

"So many questions. Does this place get a lot of business? Do they realize it’s not paying tribute but exploiting the day? People man" tweeted one person. Another said, "What a terrible name for a bar, it reminds me of that tragedy."

One tweeted, "Are you kidding me is this in Springfield." Another said, "Holy shit that's... well, not bad, but tone deaf?."

But some users saw the funny side, and memes, even if they were a little risky were made. ""Hi, we'd like a plate of the fresh-baked Lets Rolls for the table. Oh, and a pitcher of Non-al-Qaholic beer," joked one person. Another said, "TWO FULL BARS. The Twin Counters"

"Well, on the bright side (if there is one)… they don’t think 9/11 is a hoax," joked another. One more offered Johnson a thematic offer, tweeting, "Never Forget ... IT'S WING WEDNESDAY! Stop by bar9eleven for 25 cent wings and 3 dollar pints of Budweiser every Wednesday night from 9 until 11."

Jokes aside, the name may sound insensitive, but that is not the intention Johnson had. He told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, "It has everything to do with remembering." The 9/11 name is never used to market the bar, since the feeling comes from a very personal place. "The American spirit to overcome it, that’s what it’s all about. It became an emotional thing for me. It’s part of our history," he added.