A NEW ERA

Bill Miller Bar-B-Q rolls out first double drive-thru in San Antonio

Bill Miller Bar-B-Q has a new look, but the menu is still the same.

The latest Bill Miller Bar-B-Q in San Antonio is now open and promising faster service through a new prototype store design. Opened Tuesday, May 20 at 14540 Potranco Rd. near Highway 211, the new location features a double drive-thru and a reimagined dining room designed to deliver chicken strips and sausage wraps in a flash.

According to a news release, the location — the 76th for the chain — is the first storefront to incorporate a covered double drive-thru. It's only the second Bill Miller to feature the modernized design. The company debuted the new look in 2022 at 31490 IH 10 West in Boerne.

Although the outside of the building might not stop traffic, the interior trades the usual barnyard decor for bright orange metal cafe chairs, a chalkboard-style mural, and contemporary lighting. Still, it doesn't ignore the company's almost 75-year heritage. Framed word art and photos tell the story of the chain's long history in San Antonio.

Local fans also won't spot the taxidermy deer mounts common at other area locations. The glass-partitioned, deli-style troughs are gone, too. Instead, flat screens loom above a sleek stainless steel counter outfitted with state-of-the-art point of sale systems.

Although social media posts about the new location were mainly met with positive feedback, the Boerne store did provoke some grumbling, with many saying the store looked like every other fast food joint in America. Of course, complaining about Bill Miller is one of the area's favorite sports.

Traditionalists will be happy to know that the food hasn't received a revamp. The new location still serves barbecue plates, sandwiches, and fried chicken. A condiment bar allows guests to load up on the fixings.

"We're eager to bring Bill Miller to a developing area and continue to grow in San Antonio," Bill Miller Bar-B-Q president and CEO Jim Guy Egbert said via the press release. "The new covered double drive-thru is a first for us, and it's designed with our customers in mind for a quick convenient way to pick up the same quality food they know and love."

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HILL COUNTRY HOTELS

New Braunfels luxury hotel to open with restaurant from Texas TV chef

SpringHill Suites by Marriott New Braunfels

Rendering courtesy of Oldham Goodwin.

The new SpringHill Suites by Marriott is expected to open in the last quarter of 2026.

A new riverfront hotel in New Braunfels will come with some culinary star power: SpringHill Suites by Marriott will debut with a restaurant from celebrity chef Tim Love.

Real estate firm Oldham Goodwin has broken ground on a new eight-story hotel, at 738 IH 35 N.

Love will open the Hill Country’s first outpost of his Tex-Mex concept, Paloma Suerte, in the hotel. The chef-owner of several Fort Worth restaurants like Gemelle and Lonesome Dove Western Bistro, he is also a frequently featured personality on Chopped, Top Chef, and Iron Chef.

“I’m thrilled to bring a taste of Fort Worth hospitality and Paloma Suerte’s bold, vibrant flavors to New Braunfels,” said Love via a release. “Our team is known for dishes and drinks that keep people coming back for more, paired with exceptional service and a good time — we can’t wait to create that same energy and experience here.”

Tim Love's Paloma Suerte will anchor the hotel.Paloma Suerte/ Facebook

It is not Love's first partnership with SpringHill Suites by Marriott. His acclaimed tapas restaurant-bar, Atico, sits on the rooftop of a SpringHill Suites hotel in the Fort Worth Stockyards, not far from his Paloma Suerte restaurant in the historic district.

According to the release, the new Hill Country hotel’s architectural lines will be contemporary, and design company Niles Bolton Associates will use locally familiar materials as a nod to New Braunfels’ Hill Country charm. The building is tucked away from the highway to take advantage of the wooded landscape.

“By thoughtfully integrating the hotel into its natural surroundings, we’ve created a destination that feels both fresh and authentic. From its riverside views to its modern comforts, the design aims to deliver an elevated, resort-like experience that enhances the guest journey and celebrates the spirit of the Texas Hill Country,” said project principal Andres Rubio in a statement.

Inside, 150 suites will be serviced by luxe amenities like ballroom-style meeting halls, a state-of-the-art fitness center, a breakfast lounge, and boat docks. A two-tier swimming pool will boast Palomalita, “an exclusive poolside food and beverage experience offering fresh, inspired bites and refreshing libations.”

Oldham Goodwin did not share any interior design details, but SpringHill Suites hotels typically lean minimalist with neutral furnishings and splashes of color from abstract art. The hotel is expected to open in the fourth quarter of 2026.

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