TWISTS AND TURNS

Combination ice cream parlor and pretzel shop twists into San Antonio

Cold Stone Creamery is teaming up with Wetzel's Pretzels on a new San Antonio store.

A combination pretzel shop and ice cream parlor is making its way to San Antonio, allowing locals to nab sweet and savory snacks in one trip. According to state records, the city’s first shared location of popular chains Wetzel’s Pretzels and Cold Stone Creamery will open at 7118 W. Loop 1604 N.

Neither brand is new to the Alamo City area. Wetzel’s has operated a kiosk at the Shops of La Cantera since 2021, and Cold Stone has four locations in the area. The two storefronts in San Antonio city limits share space with sibling concept Rocky Mountain Chocolate.

Cold Stone was co-founded in 1988 by Donald and Susan Sutherland, who sought a Goldilocks balance between hard-pack and soft-serve ice cream. Today, it is known as one of two national chains offering made-to-order cones with various mix-ins.

Wetzel’s, founded in 1994, is best known as a concession stand with locations in airports, shopping malls, arenas, and theme parks like Walt Disney World. Although it serves some sweet treats, it is most famous for salted soft pretzels and hot dogs.

The two brands began combining forces in 2022 when Dallas-based private equity firm CenterOak Partners LLC sold Wetzel’s to MTY Food Group, the Canadian franchiser behind well-known concepts like Famous Dave’s, Papa Murphy’s, and Pinkberry.

Combination storefronts have become all the rage in a restaurant industry looking to maximize foot traffic and cut costs. Health-conscious chains Saladworks and Frutta Bowls recently announced a second shared location in San Antonio. And local celebrity chef Johnny Hernandez is melding Burgerteca with Southtown favorite Blue Moon Mexican Restaurant.

A Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation filing says that construction of San Antonio’s new Cold Stone/Wetzel’s outpost will wrap up in December. Their parent company has yet to release grand opening plans.

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DEEP DIVE

Trendy poke bowl restaurant to debut in San Antonio with 10 locations

Pokeworks/ Facebook

Pokeworks is opening 10 area locations.

San Antonio is set to welcome a major expansion of Pokeworks, a rapidly growing poke restaurant chain from California. A new franchise deal will bring 10 locations of the popular Hawaiian bowl eatery to Alamo City within two years, marking the first Pokeworks storefronts in the area.

Motivated by a shared love of Hawaiian flavors, a group of friends founded Pokeworks in 2015. Like similar chains, it focuses on build-your-own rice bowls and salads customized with sustainable seafood and toppings like seaweed, edamame, and sesame seeds. The ingredients can also be stuffed inside a trendy poke burrito.

In addition to the raw fish dishes, the restaurant serves hot plates like charred teriyaki salmon and barbecued huli huli chicken. The plates come with sides like furikake macaroni salad and can be beefed up with add-ons like garlic Spam musubi.

According to a press release, the locations will be run by former Olympic swimmer Agustin Guzman. The entrepreneur is also developing several outposts in the Rio Grande Valley.

"I've experienced success across varying industries, but what sets Pokeworks apart is their momentum — it's a high-performing brand that's constantly improving, innovating, and growing," said Guzman, via the release.

Pokeworks operates almost 70 locations spread throughout the United States, Taiwan, and Canada, with plans to expand to Mexico. Its current growth trajectory will almost double the number of stores.

The chain has put down Texas roots in Houston, Dallas, and El Paso, but the closest Pokeworks to San Antonio are currently in the Austin area. The press release did not share which areas of the city the business is targeting.

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