OPENING ALERT

Wetzel's Pretzels and Cold Stone combo shop opens in San Antonio

Cold Stone Creamery is walking hand-in-hand with Wetzel's Pretzels.

A combination pretzel shop and ice cream parlor will soon be serving San Antonio sweet and savory snacks. The city’s first shared location of popular chains Wetzel’s Pretzels and Cold Stone Creamery will open at 7118 W. Loop 1604 N. on June 24.

Neither brand is new to the Alamo City. Wetzel’s has operated a kiosk at the Shops of La Cantera since 2021, and Cold Stone has four locations in the area, including outposts in Helotes, Live Oak, and San Antonio proper. The latter two storefronts also play double duty, sharing space with sibling concept Rocky Mountain Chocolate.

Cold Stone was co-founded in 1988 by Susan and Donald Sutherland (no relationship to Kiefer), who sought a Goldilocks balance between hard-pack and soft-serve ice cream. Today, it is known as one of two national mega-chains offering made-to-order cones with various mix-ins.

Wetzel's Pretzels are a whole vibe.Wetzel's Pretzels/ Facebook

Wetzel’s, founded in 1994, is best known as a concession stand with locations in airports, shopping malls, arenas, and theme parks like Walt Disney World. Although it serves some sweet treats, it is most famous for salted soft pretzels and hot dogs.

Locally, the shop will be run by franchisee Jose Delgado, who says he was drawn to “the option of bringing two brands together to serve delicious products for guests.” Plans are in the works to bring additional stores to the region.

Combination storefronts have become all the rage in a restaurant industry looking to maximize foot traffic and cut costs. Health-conscious chains Saladworks and Frutta Bowls share space in San Antonio, as does Applebee’s and IHOP. Even local celebrity chef Johnny Hernandez has gotten into the action, melding Burgerteca with Southtown favorite Blue Moon Mexican Restaurant.

west side chains pretzels ice cream snacks openings

SWITCHING LANES

San Antonio racing fuel brand eyes new Southtown distillery

VP Racing Fuels/ Facebook

VP Racing Fuels could soon be filling more than gas tanks.

A familiar name in San Antonio motorsports is making plans to offer something with a little higher octane. VP Racing Fuels is eyeing the former home of Freetail Brewing Co. at 2000 S. Presa St. for a planned distillery.

Freetail closed the Southtown taproom in October 2025, whittling down its local presence to a single location. The move followed the 2024 decision to stop distributing its beers and instead focus on its gastropub operations.

In a June 12 filing, VP said the industrial site is ideal because zoning already allows machine shop and warehouse uses. The main change would be an extension of the building’s previous microbrewery operations to allow for distilling.

It assured city planners that all activities would be conducted indoors (No patio? Bummer!) and that it would not “generate traffic volumes exceeding those previously associated with the site’s operation as a restaurant and brewery.” It did not state whether guests would be able to fuel up with a tipple in an on-site tasting room.

VP also kept mum about the actual spirit, but whiskey seems more apropos than bubblegum vodka. Whatever the final product, it will best be enjoyed far away from the starting line.

Like many fuel companies, VP has extended its brand far beyond its bread-and-butter products. The company lends its name to gas stations, marinas, and car washes, and sells a variety of merch such as windbreakers and Hot Wheels cars.

The boozy brand extension is by no means set in stone. The zoning change request will have to be approved by the City Council, and as of press time, the building is still on the market. VP did not immediately return a request for more information.

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