Real Estate Photographer in Schertz, TX

Barbecue inside of an H-E-B? It doesn't get more Texas than that. The San Antonio-based grocer's homegrown barbecue concept has developed a loyal following as it expands across the state, but now residents just outside the Alamo City will be able to enjoy the smoked meats up close.

True Texas BBQ officially opened inside the Schertz H-E-B on Wednesday, May 7, Community Impact reports. The opening follows seven months of anticipation after rumors of the latest True Texas BBQ were reported.

MySA first reported that H-E-B filed plans to construct a $1.4 million new restaurant, which appeared to be a True Texas BBQ, in October 2024. The initial Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation filing did not outright say True Texas BBQ in the scope of work, but the project name was "HEB SAN ANTONIO 26 TTBBQ," and it seemed pretty clear what "TTBBQ" stands for.

Construction reportedly started on November 18, 202 and was completed by March 7. Now, of course, the long awaited mystery has been solved.

H-E-B's True Texas BBQ has over 40 restaurants in stores across Texas, including San Antonio, Austin, Bastrop, Kyle and more. The barbecue restaurant serves brisket, chicken, turkey, spare ribs and sausage along with sides like loaded potatoes, mac n' cheese, Frito pie and corn bread.

The H-E-B in New Braunfels, which opened in 2022, was the company's first two-story True Texas BBQ.

Find it: 17460 I-35 N, Schertz, TX 78154

Schertz officials hope to enter into a future agreement with Cibolo Creek Municipal Authority and the city of Cibolo to expand the Cibolo Creek Municipal Authority South Sewer Treatment Plant.

Construction of the proposed plant expansion would begin in mid to late 2027, but Schertz officials need to see if Cibolo and Green Valley Special Utility District, or GVSUD, want to join the agreement. There will be a presentation opening that conversation with Cibolo City Council members May 13.

“We think it’s timely for a joint meeting this summer to talk about the needs for the expansion for that plant,” Cibolo City Manager Wayne Reed told Community Impact.

The big picture

Schertz City Council authorized a development agreement with BFR LLC, a boutique residential and land brokerage, committing the city to providing water and sewer service to the company’s 30-acre property April 15.

The property is located in the city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction at 12535 Woman Hollering Road, according to agenda documents.

ETJs were created by the Texas Legislature in 1963 and have allowed cities to invoke some regulatory authority over subdivisions outside of the city limits, which ensures those areas reflect that city’s development standards, according to previous reporting by Community Impact.

The approval limits city water and wastewater impacts fees currently being charged and allows for a multifamily complex to be an allowed use. The property owner agrees to petition for voluntary annexation once the multifamily project is constructed, according to agenda documents.

Digging deeper

With the completion of the Woman Hollering Creek Trunk Line and Lift Station project, Schertz staff calculated actual flows from wastewater treated by Crossvine batch plant and found that the city is already using its allocated 125,000 gallons per day of capacity.

Without treatment expansion, other new developments like Sterling Grove would need to move wastewater from up north to the OJR Plant if the city does not obtain more capacity.

“That’s not an unusual thing. We have subdivisions that are currently lifting up because either the south plant wasn’t in place or because of where they’re located they can’t get to the Woman Hollering Creek Trunk Line,” Deputy City Manager Brian James said.

Developments like Saddlebrook, Carmel Ranch and Willow Grove lift up to the OJR Plant.

Some background

In 2014, the city of Schertz entered into a Southern Plant Wastewater Services and Funding Agreement by and among Cibolo Creek Municipal Authority, Schertz and Cibolo for the construction of the CCMA South Sewer Treatment Plant. CCMA would build a sewer treatment plant with capabilities to treat 500,000 gallons of wastewater per day, according to agenda documents.

In December 2022, the city of Schertz and Green Valley Municipal Utility District entered into a mediated settlement agreement that assigned 75,000 gallons per day to GVSUD and an additional 50,000 gallons per day with GVSUD paying Schertz’s cost for this capacity. This means the city of Schertz gave up 125,000 gallons per day of capacity to the utility district. In early 2024, Cibolo opted in to the agreement which means the city has rights to half of the 500,000 gallons per day of capacity. As a result, Schertz only has 125,000 gallons of wastewater per day of capacity at the plant and is the only entity contributing to the plant’s flows, according to agenda documents.

“The problem is not that the plant is out of capacity, it’s that we’re the only ones flowing into it,” James said.

A quick note

The city must obtain additional capacity in the south plant from either Green Valley Special Utility District or the city of Cibolo prior to executing a development agreement.

Extra capacity must be obtained prior to execution of the development agreement, according to agenda documents.

New Braunfels, Northeast San Antonio Metrocom Editor

Amira joined Community Impact in January 2023 after graduating with a degree in journalism from Texas State University in San Marcos. Prior to CI, Amira was a reporter at the Hays Free Press and interned at Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Magazine. Before becoming an editor, Amira was previously working as a Government Reporter for Community Impact's San Marcos-Buda-Kyle Edition, where she extensively covered local government, development, environmental and business news. When she is not writing, she enjoys reading, traveling and photography. Have any news tips or story ideas? Email Amira at avanleeuwen@communityimpact.com.

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