DUBLIN THE FOOTPRINT

Irish tavern debuts new indoor space in historic New Braunfels home

Kennedy's Tavern guests can now see what's inside the historic Voigt House.

Kennedy's Tavern/ Facebook

After opening its outdoor portion in March, New Braunfels bar Kennedy’s Tavern is giving its customers some relief from the heat. The Irish pub has finally completed the revamp of its inside space at 308 E. San Antonio St.

The renovation of New Braunfels' landmark Voigt House has been painstaking. The 1870 Mansard-roofed home has deep connections to the town, sitting on land once owned by early cultural leader Hermann Seele. The building is a registered Texas Historic Landmark, so owners Joe Collins and Lalita and Kyle Kennedy couldn’t just slap on drywall.

The property has been in the Kennedys’ family hands for more than two decades. Gary Mathis had previously used the space as a law office before selling it to his daughter Lalita in 2025.

The partners kept the historical details of the space intact, including the original stone. Textured walls give the space a lived-in feel, not unlike the Irish public houses from which Kennedy’s drew inspiration.

Besides now offering air-conditioned comfort, the bar hasn’t changed its business model much. Guests can still enjoy live music outdoors and order pub grub like fish and chips and fried cheese curds. And the drink menu still focuses on Irish-inspired craft cocktails, whiskey, and 25 draught beers. The latter can be zhushed by a machine that “prints” designs into a pint’s foam.

Kennedy’s Tavern joins two other high-profile concepts that have recently opened in historic near-downtown spaces. Old City Hall, from the family behind McAdoo's Seafood Company, is now dishing out steaks and martinis in a former municipal building. Nearby, ¡Saludos! Cocina + Bar is serving Mexican street food in the historic Dittlinger Roller Mills building.

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OPENING ALERT

Terry Black's sets opening date for first New Braunfels restaurant

Photo courtesy of Terry Black's Barbecue

Terry Black's is days away from its New Braunfels debut.

Austin’s Terry Black’s Barbecue is finally firing up the pit in New Braunfels. The rapidly growing chain will open the highly anticipated Hill Country restaurant on September 15 in the former home of Los Cucos Mexican Cafe at 1310 E. Common St.

“We’ve had our eye on New Braunfels for a long time,” said cofounder Mike Black via a release. “It’s a city with deep Texas roots, a strong sense of community and a lot of energy behind it. We’re proud to plant some roots here ourselves and can’t wait to start serving New Braunfels.”

Mark Black and siblings Christina and Michael founded the concept in Austin in 2014, naming the joint after their father, Terry. The concept, however, wasn’t just a paternal homage. The trio carries on a family tradition started by their grandfather, Edgar Black Sr., the founder of Black’s BBQ in Lockhart.

Although the chain now has eight locations, it has passed on shortcuts in favor of time-honored techniques. Terry Black's sticks to old-school Central Texas smoking, serving meats-by-the-pound like brisket, beef ribs, turkey, jalapeno Cheddar sausage, and gargantuan dino ribs. Sides include Southern-style classics like coleslaw, mac ‘n’ cheese, creamed corn, and banana pudding.

Guests can see the pitmasters work on site.Photo courtesy of Terry Black's Barbecue

“I think the thing that really sets our family apart is that we take pride in every product we put out there,” said Mark Black in an earlier release. “You don’t come in here and get a set plate of food. You can order a slice of brisket, a rib, and a sausage link all at once to get a taste of each unique menu item, perfected after several hours of smoking and preparation.”

Although long-and-slow cooking is at the heart of the operation, Terry Blacks has made a few tweaks to adapt to on-the-go customers. The chain speeds things up with multiple cutting blocks and constantly loaded pits. Still, a selection of Texas craft beers and the restaurant’s signature frozen margarita rewards those who want to sit a spell.

The roomy $5 million space gives guests plenty of room to sprawl, including a large dining room and a two-story outdoor deck that will undoubtedly be packed in the fall. Private dining will become available in the upcoming weeks. Hours are Sunday through Thursday, 10:30 am- 9:30 pm, and Friday and Saturday, 10:30 am-10 pm.

With the New Braunfels location completed, Terry Black’s is next headed south on the Interstate 35 corridor. Construction is well underway on a plot at 2101 Broadway in San Antonio, which will eventually house two restaurants, a hotel, and a bathhouse.

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