NEWS YOU CAN EAT

6 things to know in San Antonio food right now: Hip-hop bake shop drops first San Antonio location

Now, this is a story all about how cookies got flipped-turned upside down.

Editor's note: We get it. It can be difficult to keep up with the fast pace of San Antonio's restaurant and bar scene. We have you covered with our weekly roundup of essential food news.

Openings and closings

Californian-based sweet shop Cookie Plug is firing up its first San Antonio franchise. Inspired by '80s and '90s hip-hop culture, the store serves "thicc" cookies in graffitied environment pulled from a Fresh Prince of Bel-Air DVD cover. The first of several planned franchises is set to debut at 3830 N. Loop 1604 E. #103 on April 15, according to a Facebook announcement.

Hospitality nonprofit Saint City Culinary Foundation has called it a day after six years of serving the hospitality community. Via an Instagram statement, founder Joel Rivas briefly explained that the decision wasn't taken lightly but was the best course of action. One of the foundation's signature programs, however, will live on. Mental health support group Heard will continue serving workers as an online group under the stewardship of Amie Ward.

P.F. Chang's giant horses have trotted into New Braunfels. According to a release, the third San Antonio-area location debuted on April 5, continuing the company's efforts to rebrand its outposts as "bistro" concepts. The announcement didn't precisely specify what differentiates the old from the new. Still, as long as they have lettuce wraps, the customer base will surely be happy.

A fixture of Boerne's dining scene will soon serve its last schnitzel. In a social media statement, Little Gretel owner chef-owner Denise Maza announced that she was shuttering the long-running Czech-German restaurant on April 30. Maza had previously shared her retirement plan, opening the property for lease in January.

In brighter Boerne news, 28 Songs Brewhouse + Kitchen will officially debut on March 13. Located in the Main & Market development at 110 Market Ave., the veteran-owned business will serve pub grub and guest beers before introducing its own beer in May.

Tommy Bahama, the unofficial vacation outfitter of middle-aged men, is bringing some hibiscus-hued hospitality to the Shops at La Cantera. According to records at the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, the brand plans to open its Tommy Bahama Marlin Bar in the tony shopping center. Guests can expect a vaguely tropical menu and some Ernest Hemingway steez after the construction wraps up in late October.

openings closings charity dessert beer craft beer boerne bars cocktails 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.

burger joint burgers closings comeback openings teddy bs