new chick in town

New chicken salad restaurant with drive-through nests in New Braunfels

The New Braunfels location is one of eight new locations to open in the San Antonio area.

Photo courtesy of Chicken Salad Chick

Chicken salad sounds quaint, but one medium-sized chain is building an empire that keeps growing in Central Texas. Chicken Salad Chick, which opened two San Antonio restaurants in quick succession in 2023, is now debuting in New Braunfels on January 17.

The new franchise restaurant will be located at 1050 FM 306, in Gruene Heights Center. Thanks to a drive-through window, this location should be just as convenient for San Antonio drivers passing through as it is for locals and nearby errand-runners. It may even become a habit for some, once all eight planned San Antonio-area restaurants are up and running — this is only the third.

Chicken Salad Chick keeps things simple, offering a dozen flavors, from traditional styles like celery and mayonnaise, to more modern mixes like bacon-ranch. Pimento cheese, egg salad, soups, sandwiches, and sides give the menu a deli feel and offer low-maintenance takeaway.

The first 100 guests on January 17 will receive free chicken salad for a year; one will receive weekly chicken, and the next 99 will receive theirs monthly. Plus, the following days have more prizes in store:

Thursday, January 18 — The first 50 guests to purchase a Chick meal will receive a branded stainless steel water bottle.
Friday, January 19 — The first 50 guests to purchase a Chick Trio will receive a small, branded cooler.
Saturday, January 20 — The first 50 guests to purchase a large Quick Chick will receive a free canvas tote.

“These communities are growing by leaps and bounds with many young families and local retirees,” said Jeff Rochelle, who co-owns the existing San Antonio locations with James Oberg and George Shaw, in a press release. The same team plans to open the remaining five locations. “We love sharing Chicken Salad Chick’s made-from-scratch chicken salad and joy-filled culture with all of our guests and giving back to this area that has given us so much.”

Oberg, who has lived in New Braunfels for 16 years added, "My family moved to this area for its small-town feel, rich history and beautiful scenery. My children have grown up here, and we’ve had the opportunity to become involved with many school, sport and church activities. It’s a wonderfully close-knit community. We are thrilled to bring them delicious lunch, dinner and catering options we know they can use and enjoy.”

Locals seem happy with the existing two San Antonio locations so far. Both have 4.5 stars or more on Google, from hundreds of reviewers.

The New Braunfels Chicken Salad Chick will be open Monday through Saturday from 10 am to 8 pm. More information is available at chickensaladchick.com.

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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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