END OF AN ERA

Favorite New Braunfels bar to close after 16 years of music and beer

Billy's Ice House is closing after 16 years of music and ice cold beer.

A fixture of New Braunfels nightlife, Billy's Ice, is singing its swan song after 16 years. The owners have sold the property at 1193 Loop 337 Ramp and are projecting that the Hill Country convenience store-turned-music venue will shutter by October 1.

In a bittersweet social media post, the owners said the property had been on the market for about a year, but they did not name the specific reasons for the sale.

"This is a post I knew would come at some point, but it doesn't make it any less emotional," wrote a Billy's rep. "A number of factors played into this decision, but at the end of the day, it's what had to happen. There will be a new business at the location, but Billy's will live on in our hearts and memories."

Bill Sisoian transformed the former drive-thru convenience store into a neighborhood bar in 2008 with his son, Nick. The bar has gone through a few ownership changes since, but has remained a community hub, raising a million dollars for charity and launching the careers of upcoming musicians.

"Few venues gave me some chances and opportunities when I was green, this is one," wrote singer-songwriter Manzy Lowry in the comments. "I've had every kind of emotional experience that I can remember (good and not) in this barn."

The longtime patrons expressed a similar sentiment.

"Having the opportunity to own such an integral part of our community's music and cultural scene (and my favorite watering hole) was one of the most fun and rewarding things I've ever gotten to do!" wrote John Wylie Coker. "We will miss it dearly."

Billy's will go out with a bang with one final weekend of performances during the weekend of September 26-28. The lineup will include many of the musicians who have graced the venue's stage over the years. And after the party, there is still cause for hope. The post invited fans to stay tuned for "chapter two."

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COMING ATTRACTIONS

Chef Jason Dady revives much-missed Umai Mi at San Antonio's Pearl

Photo by Katie James

A coconut curry at Umai Mi.

Call 2025 the year of the culinary comeback. San Antonio chef Jason Dady is reviving his short-lived pan-Asian concept Umai Mi on December 10 at Pearl’s Bottling Department food hall at 312 Pearl Pkwy., Bldg 6 #107.

The prolific Alamo City chef first opened Umai Mi at 555 W. Bitters in January 2014 after closing tapas bar Bin 555 a mere 17 days earlier. The menu’s tagline, “so not authentic, it’s absurd,” aptly described the fusion focus, a mishmash of Asian flavors Dady enjoyed tinkering with at home.

Since he retired the restaurant in January 2015, he has explored Mediterranean, Mexican, and Italian concepts. Still, he has not returned to the “countless bowls, broths, herbs, and sauces” of his beloved modern Asian cuisine until now.

This time, Umai Mi has a sharper focus — bánh mì. The sandwiches will be made with Pullman Market crackling demibaguettes, delicate herbs, crunchy vegetables, and a choice of proteins such as lemongrass chicken, ginger soy beef, or shrimp. Guests can also order the sandwich Saigon-Style with a housemade pâté.

Umai Mi Bánh mì is the centerpiece of the menu.Photo by Katie James.

Beyond the sandwiches, Umai Mi will serve a bún bowl built with vermicelli noodles, fresh vegetables, peanuts, and a protein, finished with the house nuóc chãm. Diners can also dive into curries made with slow-simmered blends of coconut milk, aromatics, and Thai basil, available in red, Panang, or green.

The small plates and starters bring back some of Uma Mi’s heavy-hitters, including Japanese-inspired deviled eggs, crispy shrimp rolls, summer rolls, sweet and spicy wings, and a crispy rice salad. Although the kiosk — which replaces Chilaquil — doesn’t have “authentically absurd” cocktails of the original, it does offer playful choices like taro bubble tea, mango milk tea, and strawberry matcha.

The Umai Mi revival comes during a year of restaurant nostalgia. Earlier in the year, restaurateur Chad Carey staged a five-day series of pop-ups supporting Hill Country flood relief that featured the menus of now-shuttered concepts Cookhouse, Sandbar, The Monterey, Gwendolyn, and Feast. Feast is also undergoing a month-long resurrection at Battalion throughout December.

But the Jason Dady Restaurant Group is mostly looking toward the future. This year, the chef has opened Ice Ice Dady and Lil’ Bros BBQ Shack at The Rock at La Cantera and Tre Pizzeria at the San Antonio International Airport. Mexico Ceaty, a reimagining of mall food courts, is slated to debut in early 2026 at the Shops at Rivercenter downtown.

“We’re thrilled to bring Umai Mi to the Food Hall at Pearl, a place that celebrates culinary creativity and community,” says Dady in a statement. “The bánh mì represents what I love about cooking, balancing textures, fresh herbs, and layering flavors in a way that makes every bite exciting. At Umai Mi, it’s not just a menu item; it’s a dish that defines who we are.

Once opened, Umai Mi’s hours will be 11 am-9 pm Monday through Thursday, 10 am-10 pm Friday and Saturday, and 10 am-9 pm Sunday.

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