Chef Johnny Hernandez has multiple restaurants throughout Texas, including one at the San Antonio International Airport (SAT). Now, the chef is revving up to start renovations on his famed La Gloria restaurant and bring two new eateries to the airport by early 2026.
According to this licensing permit, Chef Johnny’s Mercado is planned to open doors at 9800 Airport Blvd, GLF-2.
The San Antonio entrepreneur told What Now San Antonio via email that he is working towards opening the Mercado sometime in April of next year.
Chef Johnny shares that La Gloria will shut its doors around March to undergo a major renovation. One of six locations throughout the San Antonio area, the eatery has been dishing out street-style tacos, ceviche, and other traditional Mexican dishes for 12 years.
Chef Johnny says he intends to reopen around May 2026.
The South Town Market is expected to open in February. The restaurateur shares that customers can enjoy a contemporary offering of seasonal salads, sandwiches, wraps, and salty snacks.
“The menu is still in development,” he writes. “But, will be focused on Authentic Mexican Cuisines with a sprinkling of San Antonio Tex Mex classics.”
The projects are opening in collaboration with HMSHost, a restaurant operator with more than 1,000 locations in nearly 80 airports across North America. According to a press release announcing the new dining concepts, the local culinary partnership with Chef Johnny started back in 2012.
Now the two are collaborating on a concessions program spanning 19,800 square feet, which is part of the airport’s multi-billion-dollar improvement plan.
“Every few years, an opportunity presents itself to transform the experience at an airport — and this is certainly one of those opportunities,” Steve Johnson, President and CEO, North America, Avolta, said in the press release. HMSHost is part of Avolta, a global travel retailer.
HMShost awarded seven local chefs, including Chef Johnny, contracts to open 14 new dining concepts in Terminals A and B of SAT.
“Nothing makes me happier than being joined by this amazing lineup of award-winning chefs. They represent San Antonio’s best,” Chef Johnny said in the press release.
“It’s unheard of to have this much culinary talent in any airport, and we are grateful to have airport leadership that values the importance of supporting our local chef-owned businesses.”
HMSHost and Chef Johnny are also planning to open a “proprietary tequila bar,” the press release reads, in collaboration with Herruadura.
You can expect to see a refreshed La Gloria, the new Mercado, and South Town Market open its doors early next year.
