Mr. C’s Opens Third Location on San Antonio’s Far West Side

One of San Antonio’s favorite brunch destinations is spreading its wings westward. Mr. C’s Fried Chicken & Waffles is opening its newest location at 12922 Potranco Road, Suite 112 (78253), marking the restaurant’s third home in the Alamo City and its continued commitment to San Antonio’s rapidly growing Far West Side corridor.

Known for soul food comfort classics—including signature chicken and waffle combinations with flavors like red velvet, blueberry, cinnamon, and chocolate chip—plus friendly Southern hospitality, Mr. C’s is joining the expanding roster of local brands betting on the area’s demographic and economic momentum. According to Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation filings, construction on the 3,100-square-foot, $165,000 project was slated to begin November 1, 2025, with an anticipated completion date of February 1, 2026, positioning the restaurant for a late-winter or early-spring grand opening.

The expansion underscores what many San Antonio residents, investors, and real estate professionals already recognize: the Far West Side’s dining, retail, and residential growth shows no signs of slowing. From master-planned communities like Alamo Ranch and Briggs Ranch to major infrastructure projects along Potranco Road and Loop 1604, the area continues attracting both established local businesses and new market entrants seeking access to one of Texas’s most dynamic suburban markets.

Why This Matters for San Antonio

The Far West Side has transformed dramatically over the past two decades—from open ranchland and scattered developments into one of San Antonio’s most vibrant suburban hubs. This evolution reflects broader demographic shifts, infrastructure investments, and economic confidence driving growth across western Bexar County and beyond.

From Ranchland to Retail Hub

Two decades ago, the Potranco Road corridor consisted primarily of agricultural land, with limited residential development and minimal commercial activity. Today, the landscape features:

• Major Retail Centers: H-E-B Plus, Costco Wholesale, Sprouts Farmers Market, Target, and numerous other national and local retailers have established locations to serve the area’s growing population
• Master-Planned Communities: Alamo Ranch, Ladera, Potranco Ranch, and the emerging Briggs Ranch development (2,000 homes planned over 15 years) create dense residential concentrations
• Educational Infrastructure: Medina Valley Independent School District and Northside Independent School District have expanded facilities to accommodate population growth
• Transportation Improvements: Ongoing widening projects and intersection upgrades along Potranco Road, Highway 90, and Highway 211 aim to address increasing traffic volumes

Mr. C’s decision to establish its third location amid this development reflects confidence in the area’s continued growth trajectory and long-term viability as a commercial destination.

Restaurant Expansion as Economic Indicator

Restaurant openings—particularly by locally-owned concepts with established track records—serve as important economic signals. Unlike speculative real estate development, restaurants require immediate customer traffic to sustain operations. When successful local brands like Mr. C’s commit capital to new locations, they’re validating market research showing sufficient population density, household income levels, and consumer spending to support profitable operations.

Couple Benny and Lisa Costello, who launched Mr. C’s Fried Chicken & Waffles in 2018 and previously founded Tia’s Taco Hut (a successful Tex-Mex chain), bring entrepreneurial experience and local market knowledge to their expansion decisions. Their choice to double down on the Far West Side—with their first location at 7907 W. Loop 1604 N. in the Shaenfield Ranch Center already serving the area—demonstrates conviction in western San Antonio’s demographic fundamentals.

The Lifestyle Infrastructure Equation

Modern homebuyers—particularly millennials and younger Gen X families comprising the bulk of today’s purchase market—prioritize lifestyle amenities when evaluating neighborhoods. The ability to walk or drive five minutes to quality restaurants, grocery stores, entertainment options, and community services significantly influences purchase decisions and willingness to pay premium prices.

Far West Side communities benefit from this dynamic. As retail and dining options expand, neighborhoods become more self-contained and convenient, reducing the necessity of lengthy commutes to central San Antonio for everyday needs. This “live, work, play” integration enhances property desirability and supports value appreciation.

Real Estate Impact: Where Restaurants Go, Rooftops Follow

The relationship between commercial development and residential real estate operates as a reinforcing cycle. Residential population growth attracts commercial investment, which in turn makes areas more desirable for additional residential development. Mr. C’s expansion both reflects and reinforces this pattern on the Far West Side.

Property Value Dynamics

Commercial amenity expansion influences property values through multiple mechanisms:

Convenience Premium: Homes within easy access (5-10 minute drive) of quality restaurants, grocery stores, and retail typically command 5-15% premiums compared to similar homes requiring longer drives for daily needs.

Perception of Community Maturity: New commercial development signals that an area has “arrived” as an established community rather than remaining a developmental frontier. This perception shift attracts buyers prioritizing stability and long-term value.

Reduced Commute Burden: While work commutes remain important, the ability to minimize non-work driving for errands, dining, and entertainment adds significant quality-of-life value that translates to housing demand.

According to recent market data, Far West Side neighborhoods have experienced sustained appreciation. Alamo Ranch homes showed median prices around $397,000 as of mid-2025, while broader San Antonio medians ranged from $260,000-$324,000 depending on data source and timeframe. The premium commanded by established Far West Side communities reflects, in part, their mature commercial infrastructure—which Mr. C’s expansion further strengthens.

Investment Implications

For real estate investors, commercial expansion creates multiple opportunities:

Residential Rental Properties: As employment in retail, hospitality, and service sectors grows, rental demand from workers employed in the area increases. Investors targeting workforce housing benefit from commercial development in their target neighborhoods.

Appreciation Potential: Early-stage neighborhoods seeing first-wave commercial development (moving from zero restaurants to 5-10 dining options, for example) often experience accelerated appreciation as convenience factors become apparent to wider buyer populations.

Fix-and-Flip Opportunities: Older homes in improving areas with expanding commercial amenities become attractive for renovation and resale, as buyers increasingly seek move-in ready properties in convenient locations.

Long-Term Holds: Buy-and-hold investors benefit from sustained appreciation supported by commercial development, plus growing rental demand from expanding employment bases.

Developer and Builder Response

Commercial expansion validates projections that guided residential development decisions years earlier. When master-planned community developers designated land for future retail and committed infrastructure investments, they bet on population growth justifying commercial activity. Restaurants like Mr. C’s confirming those bets encourage continued residential construction, lot releases, and community build-out.

This dynamic is particularly visible in communities like Alamo Ranch, where residential phases have expanded steadily as commercial amenities materialized. Briggs Ranch’s 2,000-home plan benefits from proximity to established Potranco Road commercial infrastructure that reduces risk for both builders and buyers.

Community Profile: Far West Side Growth Dynamics

Understanding the Far West Side’s real estate market requires examining the demographic, economic, and infrastructure factors driving growth.

Population and Demographics

The Far West Side has experienced extraordinary population growth, with estimates suggesting the area gained 15,000-25,000 new residents between 2020-2025. Key demographic characteristics include:

• Young Families: Median household age skews younger than San Antonio overall, with many households in prime child-rearing years
• Dual-Income Households: Higher-than-average dual-income percentages support housing demand in $300,000-$500,000 range
• Military Presence: Proximity to Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland creates steady demand from military families seeking off-base housing
• Diverse Population: Reflects San Antonio’s broader demographic diversity, with significant Hispanic representation and growing Asian-American populations

Economic Fundamentals

Employment accessibility drives residential location choices, and the Far West Side benefits from:

• JBSA-Lackland Employment: One of the largest employers in Texas, creating demand from both military personnel and civilian DoD employees
• Healthcare Sector Access: Reasonable commutes to South Texas Medical Center and other major healthcare employers
• Retail and Service Jobs: Local commercial expansion creating employment opportunities within the community
• Remote Work Flexibility: Growing segment of buyers working remotely prioritizing space and value over downtown proximity

Infrastructure and Accessibility

Transportation infrastructure challenges represent the primary constraint on Far West Side growth, but ongoing investments aim to address bottlenecks:

Current Challenges:

• Potranco Road congestion during peak hours, with drivers losing 182,000+ miles annually to delays between Talley Road and Highway 151
• Limited east-west arterial alternatives creating traffic concentration
• Intersection capacity constraints at major crossings

Planned Improvements:

• TxDOT studying widening projects for Potranco Road from Highway 211 to Culebra Road
• Ongoing Loop 1604 expansion and modernization
• Local street network improvements within master-planned communities

Despite current congestion challenges, buyers continue choosing the area, suggesting that home value, amenities, and community quality outweigh commute considerations for many families.

Expert Insight from Tami Price, Realtor®

As a Broker Associate with Real Broker, LLC, specializing in San Antonio’s growing suburban communities, Tami Price offers perspective on how commercial development like Mr. C’s expansion influences residential real estate decisions.

“When popular local restaurants start expanding into an area, it tells me buyers are moving there too,” Tami observes. “Lifestyle amenities drive demand just as much as square footage. I’ve had countless buyers tell me they chose one neighborhood over another because of convenient access to restaurants, shopping, and services they’ll use regularly.”

For Homebuyers

Tami advises buyers evaluating Far West Side properties to consider the complete lifestyle package: “Don’t just look at the house—evaluate the community infrastructure. A slightly smaller home in a neighborhood with mature commercial amenities often delivers better quality of life than a larger home requiring 20-minute drives for basic needs. Mr. C’s choosing Potranco Road validates that the area has the population density and spending power to support quality local businesses.”

For military families, Tami notes proximity advantages: “Lackland Air Force Base is minutes away from most Far West Side neighborhoods. For active-duty families, that convenient commute is invaluable. Combined with expanding dining and retail options, it’s an increasingly complete package that keeps improving year over year.”

For Sellers

“Sellers in Far West Side neighborhoods should highlight convenience in their marketing,” Tami recommends. “Create lists of nearby restaurants, grocery stores, parks, and schools. Show buyers they won’t feel isolated—they’ll have everything they need within a short drive. Each new business opening like Mr. C’s makes that story more compelling and supports your home’s value proposition.”

She also notes timing considerations: “The Far West Side market remains strong despite some broader San Antonio cooling. Buyers choosing this area often prioritize community over just price, which creates more stable demand. If you’re selling here, you’re in a better position than many other parts of the metro.”

The Bigger Picture

Tami emphasizes that commercial expansion reflects rather than creates market strength: “Mr. C’s didn’t choose Potranco Road randomly—they analyzed demographics, traffic counts, household incomes, and competition. Their location decision confirms what real estate data already showed: this corridor has the population and purchasing power to sustain growth. For buyers and investors, that third-party validation from successful local businesses provides additional confidence in the area’s fundamentals.”

Three Takeaways for Buyers, Sellers, and Investors

1. The Far West Side Remains One of San Antonio’s Hottest Growth Zones

Population growth, new home construction, commercial expansion, and infrastructure investment converge to create sustained momentum. Unlike flash-in-the-pan development areas, the Far West Side benefits from multiple growth drivers—military employment stability, master-planned community maturity, and expanding commercial amenities—that support long-term viability. Buyers entering now access an established-but-still-growing market, while investors recognize sustained appreciation potential beyond short-term speculation.

2. Retail and Dining Expansions Signal Increasing Home Values and Infrastructure Investment

Commercial businesses make location decisions based on rigorous analysis of population density, household income, traffic patterns, and competition. Mr. C’s willingness to invest $165,000 in a new 3,100-square-foot restaurant validates their confidence in the Potranco Road corridor’s economic fundamentals. For homeowners, each new business opening reinforces property values by enhancing convenience and community desirability. For investors, tracking commercial development provides early indicators of neighborhood appreciation potential before broader market recognition drives prices higher.

3. Families Relocating to San Antonio Increasingly Choose Potranco Road and Neighboring Communities

Buyer preference patterns show sustained interest in Far West Side locations despite ongoing traffic challenges. The combination of newer housing stock, master-planned amenity packages, highly-rated schools (Medina Valley ISD, Northside ISD), and expanding commercial options appeals to young families and military buyers comprising a large market segment. This demographic alignment suggests continued demand supporting property values even during broader market cooling periods.

The Bottom Line

Growth on San Antonio’s Far West Side isn’t slowing—it’s accelerating and maturing. From new restaurants like Mr. C’s Fried Chicken & Waffles and retail centers to expanding schools and master-planned communities like Briggs Ranch’s 2,000-home development, the corridor continues gaining momentum that transforms it from a growth frontier into an established suburban destination.

Every opening like Mr. C’s strengthens the local lifestyle ecosystem and highlights why this area increasingly ranks among San Antonio’s most desirable places to live, work, and invest. Unlike purely speculative development, the Far West Side’s growth rests on fundamental drivers: sustained population growth, employment stability from JBSA-Lackland and expanding commercial sectors, and infrastructure investments addressing capacity constraints.

For prospective homebuyers, the message is clear: the Far West Side offers newer housing stock, strong schools, growing amenities, and reasonable prices compared to central San Antonio—all while maintaining accessibility to major employment centers. The trade-off involves accepting current traffic challenges during peak hours, though ongoing infrastructure improvements aim to address these constraints.

For current homeowners, each commercial expansion like Mr. C’s reinforces property values and community desirability. The convenience premium commanded by homes near quality restaurants, grocery stores, and retail continues growing as the area’s commercial infrastructure matures.

For real estate investors, the Far West Side presents opportunities across multiple strategies: rental properties serving growing employment bases, appreciation plays targeting neighborhoods in early commercial development phases, and fix-and-flip projects capitalizing on buyer preference for move-in ready homes in convenient locations.

Whether you’re buying your first home, selling to relocate, or exploring investment opportunities in this dynamic area, understanding how commercial development influences home values and community desirability is essential to making informed decisions.

Ready to Explore Far West Side Opportunities?

Tami Price, Broker Associate with Real Broker, LLC, specializes in San Antonio’s growing communities including the Far West Side corridor. Whether you’re evaluating neighborhoods, timing a purchase or sale, or analyzing investment potential, Tami provides expert guidance grounded in comprehensive market knowledge and genuine commitment to your success.

Contact Tami Price, Realtor® today:

Call or Text: 210-620-6681

Visit: www.tamiprice.com

Email: tami@tamiprice.com

Serving San Antonio’s Far West Side, Alamo Ranch, Potranco Road corridor, and all Bexar County communities with personalized service that helps you make confident real estate decisions.

Disclaimer

This blog post is for informational purposes only. Restaurant opening dates and project timelines are subject to change. Real estate buyers, sellers, and investors should conduct their own due diligence and consult with qualified professionals before making decisions.