Five Great Places to Check Out On Main Street in Cibolo

If you live in Cibolo or the surrounding communities (Schertz, Selma, or Universal City), you might notice that our once sleepy little community is growing.

In the past year alone we’ve seen strip malls popping up left and right. We now have CVS and Super Walmart, and soon we’ll have HEB Plus. We’ll be just like the big city folk in no time.

We chose to live in Cibolo because being in a quiet, outside-the-city community was appealing, so we have mixed feelings about all this expansion. Things are definitely more convenient but also more crowded. It’s a trade-off, I guess.

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But one area of expansion makes me smile every time I see it. Have you been to Main Street in Cibolo recently? If not, you should come check it out. Main Street offers a variety of locally owned places to eat and shop that will appeal to anyone, especially those in Northeast San Antonio that might not want to drive south on I-35 to find a cool new place to have coffee, drinks, or a really good meal.

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Here are my five “don’t miss” places on Main Street in Cibolo:

1. The Old Main Ice House

The newly opened Old Main Ice House is located in a renovated 1920s building and offers a full bar with TVs so you don’t miss your favorite sporting events. They have an awesome 10,000-square foot backyard with lots of places to sit and relax, and they offer live music every weekend. We have not been disappointed in any of the bands we’ve listened to at The Old Main Ice House.

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If you’re hungry, catch the food trucks on the weekend. My favorite food truck is Grouchy Mamas. Maybe because I’m a grouchy mama at times and the name makes me smile, but in all seriousness, this is some good grub.

The Old Main Ice House is family friendly until dark and then has more of a “watering hole” atmosphere. We’ve taken our kids on Sunday afternoons for food and a few games of corn hole, and there have been lots of families out enjoying the atmosphere and the good food. They also offer $3 mimosas and $6 Bloody Marys on Sundays. Yes, please!

Photo Credit: Jaquie Ferrato
Photo Credit: Jacquie Ferrato

Another fun fact: the Old Main Ice House is located near a train track, and every time a train passes by you can get $2 Kamikaze shots at the bar while the train is going by. It’s kind of fun to relive those college days once in a while, right?

Photo Credit: Jacquie Ferrato

For the scoop on what’s happening, check out their Facebook page. They do a great job of keeping the community up to date on the bands, food truck offerings, and other specials.

2. Catalano’s Pizzeria

Catalano’s has a good variety of pizza, salads, and other Italian fare. They offer eat-in and carry out. Their pizzas are 100% made from scratch and made to order. It’s not the place to go if you’re in a hurry, but the pizzas are worth the wait. They have very limited seating, but the atmosphere is cute, cozy, and eclectic. The last time I stopped by to order a pie for carryout, it was about 5:30 on a Friday evening and over half the tables were full. I haven’t tried anything other than the pizza, but they seem to be doing good business, so they must be doing something right.

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If you’re looking for some non-Franchised, fresh Italian food, give Catalano’s a try. Catalano’s is closed on Sunday.

3. Emily’s Place Coffee Shoppe

If you are looking for a cute, quaint place to have a coffee date, Emily’s is a must try. Keep up with their Facebook page for their various specials. They offer Happy Hour discounts and “Date Night” specials. They have every kind of specialty coffee and tea that you’d expect from a “big box” place and a mouth-watering array of baked goods and pastries.

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Emily’s also offers ample outside seating and a play area if you want to make it a family outing or meet another mom for coffee and treats. They also offer a children’s book exchange on the front porch.

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There are a lot of places around the San Antonio area to get great coffee (and this is no exception…try the iced caramel macchiato) but this one wins hands down for atmosphere and ambiance. Emily’s is closed on Sundays.

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4. Harmon’s Bar-B-Q

This place has THE BEST barbecue in the San Antonio area. Yes, I know there are a lot of places around here that have great BBQ, but Harmon’s tops the list. Its walk-up ordering and picnic tables—not fancy, but the food rocks and the staff is friendly.

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You can smell the yummy aromas from the smokehouse in back of their restaurant from just about anywhere on Main Street. They have chicken, brisket, sausage, smoked pork, pork ribs, and turkey. I have never been disappointed in anything I’ve eaten at Harmon’s; my favorites are the chicken, brisket, and sausage. You can eat in or take out, and Harmon’s is open every day for lunch and dinner.

Harmon’s also offers on-site and off-site catering and the occasional live music event. Check out their website for current happenings and menu.

And of course, I saved the best for last because this is the most exciting for me…

5. Scoop at the Mill

Yes, Cibolo has a real ice cream parlor, and just in time for the dog days of summer. If you haven’t heard of this place it’s because it’s brand new—their grand opening was July first. The ice cream is made in Fredericksburg, and the baked goods are locally sourced. They offer shakes, floats, and sundaes as well as traditional cups and cones. The cups and cones are sold by weight, so if you want to indulge and tell the guy behind the counter to pile it on, go right ahead and treat yo’self. Their website isn’t up yet, but their Facebook page has some great photos and information. And really, I’m telling you all you need to know. Delicious, homemade ice cream in a climate where it’s pretty much summer all year round? Why aren’t you there yet?

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Under the same roof, you’ll find The Mill Boutique and Picasso’s Cellar. The Mill Boutique contains locally sourced handcrafted paper products, clothing, home décor, and more.

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If you are looking for a unique gift that represents this area, you’ll be able to find it here. I’m not sure how someone says no to shopping followed by ice cream. I certainly can’t.

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Picasso’s studio isn’t open yet, but you can follow their Facebook page for info on their gallery and art classes. I’m delighted to see something like this come to Cibolo.

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6. 1908 House of Wine and Ale

The 1908 House of Wine and Ale is a new addition to Cibolo’s Main Street. Enjoy craft beer, wine and small plates (think cheese, fruit and nuts) in a quirky and fun atmosphere that has to be experienced first hand. If you’re looking for a great place for your next date night or girl’s night, 1908 House of Wine and Ale is a must try. 

Main Street Cibolo also has an antique store, a jewelry store, and a barber shop, and their

community center hosts a small Farmer’s Market on Thursdays from 2:00 to 6:00 P.M. I’ve never shopped in these stores or caught the Farmer’s Market—yet—but they look like great places to explore.

Cibolo is about 25 miles north of downtown San Antonio. If you’re looking to explore a different neighborhood, this is a great choice. You can have a coffee date, meeting, family outing, or grownup night on the town. So many options!

All the businesses I’ve mentioned are on the same block and within easy walking distance of one another. There is plenty of parking.

What are you waiting for? And, if you see a tall redhead with her feet kicked up at The Old Main Ice House sipping a mimosa on Sunday afternoon, it just might be me. Come say hi. I’d love to welcome you to my little slice of this awesome area we call home.

Jill
Jill Robbins is a wannabe wine snob and lazy runner. She moved to San Antonio when she was 18 months old, so she considers herself a native. She has a degree in social psychology, which so far has been unhelpful in understanding the behavior of her husband and three children. Jill writes about adoption, motherhood, and midlife on her blog, Ripped Jeans and Bifocals, and freelances for various magazines and websites such as The Huffington Post, She Knows, Babble and Scary Mommy. She is the Director/Producer of Listen to Your Mother: San Antonio, a live show featuring readings about motherhood. You can follow Jill on Facebook and Twitter.