This week covers two places neighbors already use, the businesses lining up to open on UTSA Blvd next year, the Babcock Rd rebuild that’s now underway, and early voting, which starts Oct. 19. Nobody paid to be on this list.
H-E-B on Loop 1604 near Babcock Rd
- Where: 7330 N. Loop 1604 W., near Babcock Rd, a short drive north of both neighborhoods.
- Open since: August 2025. It opened at 6 a.m. on day one.
- Worth knowing: There’s a True Texas BBQ counter inside, plus a large Southwest Asian foods section.
- Tip: Check the H-E-B app for current store hours and pickup options before you go.
Burger Boy on UTSA Blvd
- Where: 5622 UTSA Blvd., near I-10 and UTSA’s main campus.
- Open since: August 20, 2024.
- Background: A San Antonio-owned chain. The first Burger Boy opened in 1985 at 2323 N. St. Mary’s St.; the UTSA Blvd store was its eighth.
- What they serve: Hamburgers, shakes and more.
Coming next: The Merc at UTSA Blvd and I-10
The Merc is a $350 million mixed-use project at 5730 UTSA Blvd. with about 1,600 apartments and 200,000 square feet of shops and restaurants. None of these are open yet; first openings are targeted for early 2027.
| Business | What it is | Status |
|---|---|---|
| In-N-Out Burger | Burgers | Site plans filed; no opening date |
| Cheba Hut | Sandwiches | Under construction; early 2027 target |
| Wild Goji Sushi | New concept from a Northside revolving-sushi restaurant | Announced; early 2027 |
| Pür & Simple | Breakfast and brunch | Announced; early 2027 |
| Hawaiian Bros Island Grill | Hawaiian plate lunches | Announced; early 2027 |
| Pure Green | Smoothies and juice (first SA location) | Announced; early 2027 |
| Frenchies Modern Nail Care | Nail salon | Announced; early 2027 |
I’ll post again when any of these sets a real opening date.
Babcock Rd rebuild: work is underway
The City’s rebuild of Babcock Rd between W. Hausman Rd and UTSA Blvd has started, and it is the project most likely to change your drive this fall.
- What’s being built: A rebuilt road with new sidewalks, curbs, driveway approaches and drainage.
- Who and how much: EZ-Bel Contractors holds the construction contract (up to $6.17 million, approved by City Council on Jan. 29). The total project budget is about $10.98 million: $10 million from the 2022 city bond, plus CPS Energy, SAWS and Tree Preservation Fund money.
- How long: The City’s project page estimates construction from spring 2026 through winter 2027.
- Recent closures: Starting as early as Sept. 24, northbound Babcock at Hausman dropped to one lane and westbound Hausman to one through lane. Starting as early as Sept. 29, UTSA Blvd was fully closed between Babcock and N. Hills Village Dr., with access through N. Hills Village Dr. and Loop 1604. Both were listed through “early October.” Check the City’s project page for the current detour map before you head out.
- Questions: The City’s project contact is Katherine Schneider, (210) 207-8549.
Early voting starts Oct. 19
Early voting for the Nov. 3 election runs Oct. 19–30. Northside ISD has four items on the ballot:
| Item | What it does | Cost to a typical homeowner |
|---|---|---|
| Prop A | Raises the NISD tax rate by 3 cents | About $30 a year per $100,000 of home value |
| Props B, C, D | Bonds totaling $886.2 million | Paid through the district’s debt tax rate |
Closest early voting sites:
- UTSA, 1 UTSA Circle
- Great Northwest Branch Library, 9050 Wellwood St.
- Leon Valley Conference Center, 6421 Evers Rd.
- Helotes City Hall, 12951 Bandera Rd.
- Northwest Vista College, 3535 N. Ellison Dr.
Oct. 23 is the last day to apply for a mail ballot. Bring a photo ID such as a Texas driver’s license. Hours vary by site, so check elections.bexar.org first.
What this means if you own a home here
- The upside: More groceries, food and services within a few miles is something buyers ask about. Shorter errands are a real day-to-day plus for owners, too.
- The trade-off: The Merc adds about 1,600 apartments and more traffic on UTSA Blvd and the I-10 ramps. Pair that with the Babcock Rd rebuild now underway (W. Hausman to UTSA Blvd, estimated through winter 2027), and some commutes will be slower for a while. When it’s done, the stretch gets new sidewalks and drainage.
- What it doesn’t do: No single store sets your home’s value. Price still comes down to your house, your street and recent sales nearby.
If you want to know how changes like these could affect your home’s price, I’m happy to walk through the numbers for your street. You can book a quick call at calendar.ardelgado.com.
Andres Delgado, REALTOR® | AXEN Realty · 210.931.9366 · [email protected]
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