AWESOME SAUCE

Hill Country's famous Salt Lick BBQ smokes out new location in Fredericksburg

The Salt Lick Fredericksburg is expected to open in 2025.

Rendering courtesy of SA Partnership and Norris Design

A storied Central Texas barbecue joint is heading for the hills. Driftwood institution the Salt Lick BBQ is set to open a new outpost in Fredericksburg along the Highway 290 Wine Trail. Although an exact timeline has yet to be announced, day trippers can look forward to sopping up the restaurant’s signature vinegar-based sauce by the end of 2025.

Though the business lends its name to two satellites at the Dallas-Fort Worth and Austin airports, the upcoming outpost will only be the third full-sized eatery in the mini-chain. The current Dell Diamond Salt Lick in Round Rock replaced a shuttered Capital of Texas Highway location, but a planned restaurant in Grapevine was never executed.

According to a release, the 9,000-square-foot eatery will feature all the classic menu items of the flagship, including sandwiches, sides, and meats by the pound. There’s no word yet on whether diners will be able to take advantage of the popular family style option featuring all-you-can-eat brisket, sausage, and pork ribs.

Photo by Mackenzie Smith Kelley

The rambling restaurant will be part of an upcoming mixed-used development, The Sycamore. The 117-acre plot will cluster retail and hospitality concepts around a large central promenade, The Ellipse. The football field-sized stretch will flaunt landscaping, creek beds, and a bandstand to be used for seasonal programming.

Rendering courtesy of SA Partnership and Norris Design

Most tenants will be announced closer to the opening date, but developers promise a range of food and beverage options and retailers selling hats, boots, clothing, and jewelry. The Salt Lick will be joined by Salt Lick Cellars —a tasting room for The Salt Lick’s wine portfolio — and a still unannounced new concept from Salt Lick owner and pitmaster Scott Roberts.

“We could not think of a better place to plant our roots than in Fredericksburg,” said Roberts via the release. “We have found the perfect partner in The Sycamore and can’t wait to see the whole project come to fruition.”

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.

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