Coffee News

Utah coffeehouse Beans & Brews opens first Texas shop in San Antonio

A toast: to Beans & Brews coffee

www.beansandbrews.com

A coffee chain from Utah is making its official Texas debut: Beans & Brews Coffeehouse, founded in Salt Lake City in 1993, will celebrate the grand opening of its first location in Texas in the Alamo Ranch area of San Antonio, at 6507 W. Loop 1604 N. on Saturday, January 20.

The location has been open since mid-December, serving up coffee and "inviting ambiance," says a release.

“We're excited to invite the San Antonio community to join us in celebrating the launch of our newest coffeehouse," says Beans & Brews Coffeehouse CEO Chad Gretzema in a statement.

Beans & Brews Coffeehouse has been around since 1993, when brothers Jeff and Kevin Laramie opened the first location next to Salt Lake City’s hangout Liberty Park. They refined the process of high-altitude roasting, which required special tweaks just like high-altitude baking does. They've since built a reputation for smooth coffee in a friendly neighborhood setting.

They currently have about 70 locations in Utah, Idaho, Nevada, and Arizona - and now Texas.

Unlike some of the less appealing chains that have come to Texas that are drive-thru only, B&B has inside seating, with an aesthetic (and menu) similar to Starbucks.

They have a fun irreverent tone on Instagram, and part of their culture is their focus on their "unique mountain lifestyle" and "come as you are" atmosphere, with a health-conscious leaning menu, evident in their array of dairy-free items and plant-based foods.

Over the years, they've expanded the menu to include croissant sandwiches, panini, breakfast tacos, avocado toast, and burritos such as chipotle chicken, bacon, and plant-based burritos such as:

Protein Supreme burrito with plant-based sausage crumble, smoky meatless bacon, and steak-less strips with dairy-free cheddar and seasoned eggless tofu scramble
Rockin’ Ranchero with tofu scramble and spicy dairy free cheese with peppers

This San Antonio shop is the first of three new Beans & Brews Coffeehouse locations planned for the area in the next few months, as part of the Brame Holdings' portfolio of foodservice brands which also include Round Table pizza and Fatburger/Buffalo Express. They're also planning to open in Austin, as well.

coffee openings

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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