NEWS YOU CAN EAT

A South Korean bakery and a boozy gym pump up San Antonio bar and restaurant news

Paris baguette is set to sweeten downtown's Gunter Hotel.

Whatever one may think of its prices, most locals can agree that Fiesta is no time for bad tidings. As San Antonio enters its busiest weekend of the year, no restaurant closures have harshed the vibe. Here's hoping the weather is equally accommodating.

Openings

A South Korean bakery chain is checking in at downtown's Gunter Hotel. As the downtown property undergoes renovation, its owner, Jiwon Choi Song, is taking on the side project of introducing Paris Baguette to the San Antonio market. A worldwide goliath with more than 4,000 locations, the shops sell a variety of pastries and desserts alongside café favorites like gourmet salads and sandwiches.

A new food truck park will soon settle at 14769 Old Bandera Rd. in Old Town Helotes. According to Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) filings, the aptly named Old Town Helotes Family Food Park will include a putting green and four pickleball courts. Construction is planned to wrap up in early September.

Although fitness cultists may argue otherwise, it's indisputable that exercise is more tolerable when it doesn't feel like exercise. Oonce-oonce gym ALIO Fitness Club is banking on that as it opens a new location combining barbells, baristas, and booze. Per TDLR records, House of ALIO Fitness House X Social will include an adjacent coffeehouse and cocktail lounge, Unhireable Coldbrew & Cocktails. The 1533 North Main Ave. complex is expected to be completed in September.

After a more than two-year hiatus, popular Deco District burger joint Danny Boy's Hamburgers is back flipping patties. In a cheeky social media note, the owners declared, "When the flags are flying, we're grilling." There's no word on why the temporary closing was so drawn out, but better late than never.

Other news and notes

One of San Antonio's most well-attended parties is pushing back against the rabble that Fiesta prices have gotten out of control. In a Facebook message, A Night in Old San Antonio said, "Ignore the rumor that NIOSA has increased prices! 95 percent of our food and drink dishes are the same price as last year...including our frosty cold beer, and favorites like Mr. Chicken, Anticuchos, Maria's Tortillas, Bongo K Bobs...the list goes on and on!" Keeping a tradition as old as Fiesta, commentators complained that the event served smaller portions of food and drink. The lucrative cascarone market, meanwhile, continues to be unbothered by the debate.

Fast-casual newcomer Krazy Katsu is the latest restaurant to plead for support weathering San Antonio's turbulent hospitality market. Via Instagram, it shared that its business has suffered in the last couple of months. The downturn in business comes after the locally owned business's Medical Center outpost was burglarized on March 6.

openings chains desserts sweets fitness cocktails coffee hotels food trucks burgers fiesta san antonio news you can eat

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.

burgers closings openings