Austin-based neighborhood grocer Royal Blue is finally thanking San Antonio for its patience. The long-anticipated Dignowity Hill store, first teased in 2022, opens on Friday, December 12 at 1431 East Commerce.

The site, a former jewelry store, was first purchased in 2021, and a makeshift sign has been up for years. According to San Antonio Business Journal reporting, the debut was delayed while owners Jessica and Chris Provost sought approval from the city’s Historic and Design Review commission for new signage.

Each Royal Blue location caters to the needs of its community, but the formula is basically the same. The corner stores combine freshly made and gourmet grab-and-go snacks with a beer and wine selection, household products, coffee, and a small selection of local products.

Locals likely won’t be able to whip up a full dinner from the offerings, but it’s a convenient place to pick up a bottle of Rioja before a party or charcuterie and cheeses for a game night. The stores are usually packed at lunch with office workers lining up for hot sandwiches, pasta salads, and snack packs.

The 900-square-foot store has a small kitchen, but it’s about half the size of most locations. The East Side outpost makes up for the tight squeeze with a larger patio to the side of the entrance.

Royal Blue got its start in 2006 in downtown Austin. Although that store has since been shuttered, the chain currently operates six stores in the Capital City. It debuted its first San Antonio storefront in the Savoy Building at the corner of Houston and Soledad Streets in 2018.

To celebrate its eagerly awaited grand opening on December 12, Royal Blue will give out free drip coffee or hot cocoa while supplies last. The store will then be open from 7 am-10 pm daily, per an Instagram post.