New kids on the bawk

Popular chicken finger chain flocks to San Antonio with 2 new restaurants

Raising Cane's is opening two San Antonio area locations.

One of the nation's fastest growing chains is making a fowl play for Alamo City. On December 3, popular chicken finger restaurant Raising Cane’s announced the openings of two new area locations, one in New Braunfels and another on San Antonio’s Southside.

The first to arrive will be the New Braunfels location, making its debut at 1188 N. Interstate 35 Frontage Rd. on December 4 with a day of giveaways. Then, the quick service brand roosts near South Park Mall at 2525 SW Military Dr. and S. Zarzamora St. on December 6.

According to a release, the Southside location will be the second San Antonio outpost for the restaurant, known for crisp chicken strips, crinkle-cut fries, and tangy signature dipping sauce. Since entrepreneur Todd Graves founded the brand in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in 1996, it has rapidly grown to more than 400 locations across the United States and the Middle East.

But as big as the brand has grown, the company still makes a commitment to become a part of the communities it serves. Part of that comes from outreach to local organization like youth baseball club Normoyle Pony League, and the Najim Family YMCA where general manager Christopher Phelps — a southwest San Antonio native — and his team spent a day volunteering on December 1.

Giving back is also a part of the grand opening festivities. In additions to door prizes like vouchers and swag, the eatery is holding a drawing between December 6-12 to award one lucky customer a $1,000 donation to a local charity of their choice along with free Cane’s for a year.

Speaking of complimentary chicken, guests will get another chance to win a year’s supply by entering a drawing between 8:30-9 am. Twenty customers will be selected between 9-10 am, but must be present to win. While waiting for the doors to open at 10 am, visitors will be entertained by “traditional cheers and other high-energy chants" (no, we don’t know what that is either) and an appearance by the Spur’s wily mascot, The Coyote.

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Better Days, Same Burgers

Shuttered San Antonio burger joint stages surprising comeback

Teddy B's/Facebook

Teddy B's has made a surprise comeback.

Like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of Teddy B's life. In October, the popular burger joint shuttered its decade-old location on Babcock Road, grieving a loss of foot traffic and rising costs. On November 20, the spot revealed a plot twist. The owners are now slinging patties at 9903 Fredericksburg Rd.

"Dear Teddy B's customers, we have good news," the restaurant posted on social media. "We are back in business...We are waiting for our new sign, but we are up and running."

The unexpected comeback is the culmination of a tumultuous year for the business. As the restaurant marked its 10-year milestone this summer, the outlook was much darker. On August 4, the restaurant took to social media to warn that closure could be imminent. A traffic decline affected Teddy B's ability to maintain its affordable price point.

The messaging worked, at least in the short term. Days later, the restaurant reported an increase in business. The marketing language was hopeful until October 13, when the restaurant abruptly announced it was closing for good.

The news of Teddy B's rebirth came just as suddenly. After a month-long social media silence, the restaurant announced it had taken over the former home of Burger Haven. The latter restaurant was little known, appearing to operate mainly as a ghost kitchen.

Assumably, burgers will be back on the menu, but it is unclear whether other favorites will be eliminated to streamline the operation. The business has not posted any revisions, and its website is down at press time.

The burger joint's comeback manifests as other shuttered legacy restaurants like The Lion and Rose and Fratello's have staged their own returns. While Teddy B's has offered no reasoning for getting back into the game, it is a testament to the resiliency of San Antonio's culinary community.

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