Chicotsky's Liquor & Fine Wine was owned and operated by the Chicotsky family for over 85 years. In 1913 Morris J. Chicotsky immigrated to the United States from his village near Krakow, Poland, and settled in Fort Worth by 1920. He established Chicotsky's in 1933 after prohibition. His son-in-law, Mike Korman took over the business in the late 1940's and his son, Hank, owned the store until it was acquired by brothers, Robert and Mark Chicotsky, in 1986.

 

In the heart of Fort Worth's Cultural District, a story of perseverance, family, and community culminated as the 'Booze Brothers,' Robert and Mark Chicotsky, bid farewell to their beloved store, passing on the legacy to new enthusiastic and capable owners.

 

Morris J. Chicotsky, known affectionately as M.J., laid the foundations of this legacy. Born in Poland, M.J.'s journey to America was one of fortitude and ambition. After forced conscription in the 1904 Russo-Japanese War, he immigrated to the United States, arriving during the Galveston Movement in 1913. M.J. quickly established himself in Corsicana before setting his sights on Fort Worth, where he launched his career as a grocer and butcher.

 

With the same grit that saw him through his military service and early days of peddling goods from a pushcart, M.J. opened a kosher market in 1923, which would evolve into a grocery store by 1933, boasting a dedicated space for wine and spirits after Prohibition's end. This marked the beginning of what would become a fixture in the community—the Chicotsky's Liquor Store.

 

The Chicotsky family, including M.J.'s children and grandchildren, has been instrumental in the development of Fort Worth's commercial landscape, with the Chicotsky Shopping Center built in 1950, which stands as a testament to their entrepreneurial spirit and has been retained in ownership.

 

The liquor store, hailed as the city's oldest, saw its current stewards, Robert and Mark, stepping down, after decades of dedication, leaving behind a legacy as rich as the spirits they sold. Their grandfather's framed photo in Congregation Ahavath Sholom, where M.J. once served as president, remains a symbol of their enduring presence in the community.

 

As Robert stated, “We’re grateful to Fort Worth for letting us be their Booze Brothers. We look forward to the golden years ahead, embracing each day with the same spirit and love that our customers have shown us throughout the years.” He continued, “Fort Worth raised us, inspired us … and our customers, our dear friends, allowed us to serve them—it's been our life's greatest honor.”

 

With an assurance of enhanced selection, improved services, and an embrace of new technology, the new store owners from Houston are poised to respect the store's storied past of Cowtown while steering it into a promising future. 

The 'Booze Brothers' may have retired, but their spirit will linger in the aisles of the store and the Cultural District of Fort Worth, where they've served with joy, humor, and dedication to their community. As we raise our glasses, we recognize that while the name above the door may change, the legacy of M.J. Chicotsky and his descendants will continue to honor the Fort Worth and Texas spirit with each pour and toast in the Cultural District and beyond.