BEEFING UP

Favorite San Antonio burger joint set to double footprint

Currently, the bulk of the seating at Smash'd is outdoors.

Some solace as San Antonio trudges through its 100-degree days: popular burger joint Smash’d (520 E Grayson St.) is more than doubling its size — and that means more air conditioning.

“The San Antonio community has shown their appreciation through continued growth in new and repeat customers and Smash’d is responding with an exciting expansion that will increase interior and exterior space as well as our ability to serve a larger audience with an expanded kitchen,” said the restaurant in a prepared statement.

Although the joint didn’t provide any details, new Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation project details state that the $200,000 revamp will add 1,200 square feet to the existing 1,000 foot restaurant. According to the filing, work will wrap up in late November, although dates are subject to change.

In an email, Erin Tireman, who owns the restaurant with Rick Greenfield, said that the restaurant will close during a short period for the kitchen update, but will be mostly operating during construction. The restaurant will continue to offer live music and will keep the PourYard, its self-serve tap wall.

Smash’d took over the former home of Summer Camp and Hello Paradise in the growing Grayston Street entertainment district in April 2024. It’s mostly known for its gourmet smash burgers, but serves a variety of pub grub like corn dog nuggets, carne asada fries, and hefty burritos.

Tireman acknowledged that the construction will be “challenging,” but said it will set the restaurant up for long-term success. Currently, the restaurant is mostly outside space — squeezing in a few community tables and a bar indoors.

“We plan to be a part of the San Antonio restaurant and live music community for a very long time and we can’t wait to bring you an even better experience,” said the owners in the statement. Fans can follow the progress on social media.

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OPENING ALERT

Charming new cheese shop debuts near San Antonio's Pearl

CheeseMé/ Facebook

A fall board from CheeseMé featured corn-shaped candies and cheese slices disguised as pumpkin pie.

A new San Antonio shop wants you to share your best gossip over salami and brie. CheeseMé will relocate its Beacon Hill location to 1107 E Quincy St. near the Pearl on Thursday, July 30.

Jessica Mueller, sister-in-law Melinda Mueller, and friend Sandrine McCurdy first opened CheeseMé next door to Folklores Coffee House in January 2025, closing the shop the following January. Since then, the team has been renovating a charming bungalow steps away from Pearl.

The homey vibe extends to the shop itself. Instead of the more traditional café set-up of the previous shop, the spot is now organized around comfortable seating groups accented with various pillows, geegaws, and the occasional afghan blanket.

“Think of CheeseMé as your neighborhood living room — that just happens to have amazing cheese and charcuterie,” shares a rep via direct message.

CheeseMé says it wants to be more than just a shop. The owners say they want it to be a relaxing space for remote workdays, afternoon hangouts, or a post-work decompress.

Specialty cheeses, from producers like Mexico’s Queso Navarro and Austin’s plant-based Rebel Cheese, are naturally the heart of the operation. But the shop also serves charcuterie and snacks like sandwiches and a cult-favorite chicken salad made with verde chorizo paste.

And for holidays, CheeseMé goes all out, shaping herbed cheese into pumpkins and serving Texas-shaped “Chix on a Stick” during Fiesta. For the release of Wicked: For Good, it created a board with witches' hats, wands, and green-veined cheese.

For now, the shop will be open Thursday through Sunday, 11 am-8 pm. Bring a bottle when you visit. Until CheeseMé’s beer and wine license is approved, it’s BYOB with no corkage fee.

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