Hawaiian Bros. Island Grill plans new restaurant near UTSA as The Merc development targets 2026 opening

A new tenant joins a fast-growing retail corridor

A Hawaiian comfort-food chain is preparing to add another location in Northwest San Antonio, with plans tied to a large mixed-use project near the University of Texas at San Antonio. The restaurant is part of an expanding lineup of dining and recreation options taking shape along the Loop 1604 and UTSA Boulevard area, one of the city’s most active development zones.

The Merc: a 112-acre district with phased openings

The development at the center of the latest announcement is The Merc, a 112-acre, $350 million mixed-use district located between UTSA Boulevard and West Hausman Road. Early work on the project’s retail centerpiece began with an Oct. 15, 2025 groundbreaking for three buildings expected to total about 35,000 square feet in the first phase. Phase I openings are scheduled to begin in summer 2026.

Long-range plans call for more than 200,000 square feet of retail and dining across the site, as well as housing, outdoor space and a connection to the Leon Creek Greenway. The broader Merc district also includes apartment communities already in operation and a Boutique Aloft Hotel that opened in 2022.

• Overall project scale: 112 acres; $350 million investment
• Initial retail phase: approximately 35,000 square feet across three buildings
• Planned buildout: more than 200,000 square feet of retail and dining
• Housing: roughly 1,600 apartments planned across the district, including existing communities
• Timeline: Phase I openings beginning in summer 2026

What is known about the restaurant plan

The incoming concept is Hawaiian Bros. Island Grill, a fast-casual chain built around island-style plate lunches—typically a marinated protein served with rice and macaroni salad. The company’s growth in Texas has included the San Antonio area, where it has operated previously and announced broader regional expansion plans.

Separate permitting and development reporting in 2025 described a proposed additional Hawaiian Bros. restaurant in San Antonio as a roughly 2,337-square-foot buildout with an anticipated opening window in spring 2026, aligning with the broader timeline for new retail rollouts in the UTSA-area corridor.

Recreation and foot traffic as anchors

The Merc’s early tenant announcements have emphasized experiential uses. One major anchor, Park Golf, is planned near the district’s Leon Creek Greenway trailhead and is expected to include a nine-hole par-3 layout, a beer garden and areas intended for programming. The development’s mix of recreation, open space and dining is designed to support consistent traffic beyond traditional peak shopping periods.

With Phase I scheduled for summer 2026 openings, developers have positioned early tenants and outdoor amenities as key drivers of demand for additional dining and retail commitments.

Additional tenant details, including store placement within The Merc and precise opening dates, are expected to be clarified as leasing and construction milestones advance toward the 2026 launch window.