Any given sundae

San Antonio scoops up its first location of popular frozen custard chain

Andy's Frozen Custard will greet its first San Antonio guests on May 11.

A note to those San Antonio newcomers who have yet to replace sneakers and joggers for chanclas and shorts: Alamo City will soon be swelteringly hot. Luckily, a Missouri-based frozen dessert chain is ready to swoop in to deliver some sweet relief.

According to a release, Andy's Frozen Custard will debut its first local outpost at 17927 West IH-10 on May 11. The Rim shopping center site offers treats on the go with a speedy drive-thru and a walk-up window for wandering shoppers.

The bustling franchise has found success in the South and Southwest with a richer take on the summertime staple. Unlike ice cream, frozen custard adds egg yolks to the base mix for a denser, creamier texture. Andy's version adds a wallop of butterfat and a creepingly slow churn time for an even more decadent indulgence.

The custard is only offered in vanilla or chocolate, but the foundation can be mixed with 30 sweet and savory toppings. Along with familiar custard concretes, guests can opt for sundaes, splits, packed pints, and jackhammers — blended creations filled with a center add-on of choice.

Though the offerings are concocted at the company's Springfield, Missouri headquarters, local operators Joseph and Andrea Shields intend to keep a San Antonio focus. The couple plan to use profits to give to area schools and charities and intend to be an integral part of the community.

"Andy's Frozen Custard is more than just another scoop shop," said Joseph Shields via the release. "Whether the family is celebrating good school grades, needing a pick-me-up after a meeting, or just looking for a sweet treat, Andy's is a place where families and friends create new memories while enjoying the world's finest frozen custard and the highest levels of customer service."

The Shields will surely see plenty of families during the opening days (the company playfully calls it the "Grand Scoop'ning"). Among other promotions, kids under 12 can enjoy $1 sundaes until May 15. Older folks can download Andy's app and select San Antonio as their favorite store to receive a free one-topping concrete.

In-slider knowledge

Well-known brunch eatery adds location at changing Riverwalk mall

Photo courtesy of Alamo Biscuit Co. & Panaderia

Alamo Biscuit Co. & Panaderia is joining a growing list of businesses flocking to the Shops at Rivercenter.

The well-known San Antonio brunch spot Alamo Biscuit Co. & Panaderia is continuing its takeover of the city with a third location. The new eatery is expected to open in March 2025 at 849 E. Commerce St., adjacent to the Shops at Rivercenter.

The new restaurant will span a 7,000-square-foot space, including a 1,200-square-foot patio, which will host a total of 250 guests. San Antonians may remember the space from its days as Enrique Tomás, an upscale Spanish restaurant. Things will be different at the very casual Alamo Biscuit Co., which operates more like a diner.

Biscuits are, of course, the anchoring menu item, and are served in sweet and savory flights when they're not providing support for other dishes like Nashville hot chicken, eggs Benedict with various proteins, or a classic sausage, egg, and cheese. Other specialties include pancakes (sometimes with extravagant toppings), French toast, and tacos.

The new location comes with new menu items that haven't been announced with, plus a full bar and espresso bar, according to a release.

Alamo Biscuit Co. is hiring 80-100 team members starting in January, according to the release. That will include "management, servers, cooks, and dishwashers."

The Shops at Rivercenter are in the middle of a larger renaissance. The mall opened in 1988, and has weathered the coming and going trends of retail. Since 2005, it's been owned by Ashkenazy Acquisition Corporation, which also owns famous properties like Boston's Faneuil Hall Marketplace and New York City's Plaza Hotel.

Just in 2024, projects announced at the Shops at Rivercenter include an overhaul of dining by celebrity chef Jason Dady, as well as the San Antonio debut of the trendy Australian mini-golf chain Holey Moley.

“To be invited to open a location on the San Antonio River Walk is an incredible honor and a blessing,” said Alamo Biscuit Co. owner and UTSA graduate John Vale in the release. “In just five years, Alamo Biscuit Co. has become a part of San Antonio’s culinary fabric, and now, we’ve been given the opportunity to share our passion for great food and community in what I believe is the best location in Texas. This is a gift from God and a privilege we don’t take lightly.”

brunch riverwalk openings