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Billy Bob's Texas says it won't close right now, despite family feud in Fort Worth

Legendary Fort Worth concert venue Billy Bob's Texas has surely seen its share of barroom brawls over the past 35 years. But the battle over its fate, between the minority ownership group led by current club president Concho Minick and the majority ownership group led by his father Billy Minick, is a far more serious fight -- one being fought in the courts instead of near the time-tested pool tables inside the place that bills itself the "world's largest honky tonk."

On Tuesday in a Fort Worth courtroom, a state district judge ruled to extend a restraining order that will keep Concho Minick in the manager's role of the club for at least little while longer. Billy Minick and his group made efforts to fire his son last month, resulting in dramatic father versus son headlines around the state.

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Part of the disagreement is about commercial development of the Fort Worth Stockyards. It's up in the air whether Billy Bob's Texas, which has been awarded the Country Music Association's Club of the Year on numerous occasions, will be sold, WFAA says.

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But worry not, line-dancers of North Texas! Billy Bob's will continue with its scheduled shows and events, according to a statement from Director of Marketing Chris Spinks on Wednesday.

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"We want to assure everyone that the legal dispute currently in the news will in no way interfere with the great Billy Bob's experience or the future stability of this proud Texas institution," the statement reads. "This is a disagreement between longtime friends and partners, and will get straightened out soon."

The Stockyard is a cornerstone in Fort Worth; it's a must-see for out-of-towners. Though it's certainly a tourist haven, the (now) non-smoking venue is a legitimate cultural icon. Anyone in D-FW calling themselves a country music fan can only do so convincingly if they've ran up at least a couple of hefty bar tabs there. From superstars including Willie Nelson and Tanya Tucker to insurgent young bucks such as Dalton Domino and Parker McCollum, the 6,000-person joint is a bucket-list tour stop that signals an artist's status in the country music universe.

The next key date is July 21, when the restraining order keeping the younger Minick in his role will be reviewed by the judge, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.

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If you're headed to Billy Bob's soon, two things to know:

  1. Here's the concert calendar.
  2. Guidelines have changed; you can't bring a large purse. Plan ahead.