Look back on nine, locally owned Northeast San Antonio businesses and restaurants featured by Community Impact Newspaper in 2025.

1. Veteran-owned shop sells Japanese-inspired gifts in Universal City
2. Howzit Hawaiian Kitchen serves up family cuisine in Schertz
3. The Purple Pig serves up BBQ, midwestern-style
4. Elite CrossFit + Personal Training offers functional fitness in Selma
5. Grome's Sewing Machine Company sews community in Universal City
6. Tandoori Grill fuses traditional cuisine with homemade recipes in Schertz
7. Hole in the Wall Hobbies offers community in Universal City
8. M.Y. Chockdee Oriental Market & Restaurant serves authentic Filipino dishes in Universal City
9. Pollo Picosito serves up Tex-Mex with a West Coast twist in Live Oak

Check out the latest business updates from the Northeast San Antonio Metrocom from December.

Now open
Smoothie King
The Schertz franchise location is locally owned by mother-son duo Delia Gaona and Isaiah Miguel Gaona. Smoothie King sells smoothie bowls and loaded toast.

• 18476 I-35 N., Ste. 300, Schertz

• 7038 N. Loop 1604 E., San Antonio

• 580 Cibolo Valley Drive, Ste. 221, Cibolo

• 15060 Judson Road, San Antonio

Over the course of 2025, multiple initiatives and governmental approvals have helped the progression of the Great Springs Project, which aims to connect 100 miles of trails lining four of Texas’ great springs between Austin and San Antonio.

The details: The goal is to have the trail connections completed by 2036, establishing the Texas Bicentennial Trail, promoting Texas' rich historical and cultural heritage and enhancing economic development and outdoor recreation, according to the Great Springs Project plan updated in September.

What’s happening? Through collaboration with our many partners, the Great Springs Project unifies and supports existing local efforts and catalyzes new efforts to address the most critical water, land, wildlife, and public health and equity challenges facing the Central Texas region.

Utilizing urban and rural paths, the connections will run through Barton Springs, San Marcos Springs, Comal Springs and San Antonio Springs, creating a trail network from the Alamo to the State Capitol.

Pickleball is rapidly gaining popularity across the United States, with an estimated 15,910 total public courts and 4,000 added last year alone, according to USA Pickleball's 2024 Annual Growth Report. USA Pickleball is the governing body for the sport in the United States.

Read about nine of those venues that are now open in and around San Antonio, as well as some tips from the official rulebook on the basic rules of the game and terms to know for beginners.

This list is not comprehensive.

North San Antonio
Chicken N Pickle
Both a restaurant and a pickleball venue, Chicken N Pickle offers six indoor and four outdoor pickleball courts available for private events, parties and gatherings. The establishment also has equipment rentals, weekly clinics and programming.

• 5215 UTSA Boulevard, San Antonio

Epoch Pickleball
Home to four indoor, climate-controlled pickleball courts, Epoch Pickleball offers open clinics, tournaments and private events. There pickleball venue also has an on-site business center and pro shop for players.

• 21750 Hardy Oak Blvd., Bldg. 2, San Antonio