H-E-B Opens Newest Fresh Bites Convenience Store in Floresville

by Annasofia Scheve, San Antonio Express-News

The latest H-E-B Fresh Bites store opened its doors Wednesday in Floresville as the grocery chain rebrands its line of convenience centers.

H-E-B announced in April that convenience store locations in San Antonio and surrounding cities would be revamped into “H-E-B Fresh Bites,” designed to offer healthier on-the-go food options.

Instead of snacking on chips and candy, customers can grab produce, salads, sandwiches, sushi and juices to go.

Many of the locations, including the Floresville Fresh Bites, will be home to H-E-B’s Tex-Mex chain, True Texas Tacos.

And like a classic convenience store, Fresh Bites locations will include gas stations and carwashes….

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Floresville to Host American Veterans Traveling Tribute

News 4 San Antonio

A chance to honor Vietnam War heroes

Honor and remember those who served in the Vietnam War by visiting the American Veterans Traveling Tribute.

The Frank M. Tejeda Texas State Veterans Home in Floresville will be hosting the traveling Vietnam Wall from Oct. 24 to Oct. 26.

On Tuesday, Oct.24, the Traveling Wall will arrive at 10 a.m. with an escort of first responders, including Brothers in Arms Motorcycle Club, Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association, and representatives of the veterans home.

On Wednesday, Oct.25 from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., there will be a private ceremony and a revealing of the memorial walls for Frank M. Tejeda Texas State Veterans Home residents and staff.

The memorial walls will be open to viewing by the public on Thursday, Oct. 26, from 8 a.m. to noon….

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More Than a Century of Peanut Farming Makes Floresville the Peanut Capital of Texas

by John Lumpkin, Texas Highways Magazine

The new designation comes as the town near San Antonio celebrates its 79th annual Peanut Festival

This spring, State Rep. Ryan Guillen introduced House Concurrent Resolution 83, which would designate Floresville the Peanut Capital of Texas. Perhaps no one appreciated the designation as much as the Pfeil brothers—Jason, Justin, and Jerrett—third-generation farmers who are considered the last full-time peanut growers in Wilson County. They’re maintaining a family tradition that started in the 1930s when their grandfather harvested his first legume.

“We have got to be honored that the gentleman [Rep. Ryan] did what he did, and we give thanks to him,” Jason says. “We also have got to be thankful for farmers who are no longer with us who raised all the peanuts through hard work.”

Guillen’s resolution breezed through the Texas House and Senate in April and May and was signed by Gov. Greg Abbott on June 9, fours month before the 79th annual Floresville Peanut Festival, which attracts 10,000 or more visitors to the town 35 miles southeast of San Antonio every year.

Along with noting that “Floresville’s strong historical and commercial association with the peanut has been a source of great pride for generations of area residents,” the resolution recounts Wilson County’s more-than-a-century history with the crop. The first Peanut Festival took place in 1938 and was initially called the “Peanut Pow Wow” to celebrate that year’s harvest. The resolution spotlights the “[p]ioneering growers [who] realized that peanuts were well-suited to the sandy soil of the region.” One of those growers was entrepreneur Joe T. Sheehy, who imported peanut seeds in the early 1900s and became known locally as the “Peanut King.” His daughter Elizabeth was the first queen of the Peanut Festival pageant, and she was accompanied by the first king, a local farmer’s son named John. B. Connally Jr. Yes, the same John B. Connally who would become Texas’ 38th governor.

According to the Wilson County Historical Society, the county had more than 150 peanut farmers in the 1930s, including the Pfeil brothers’ grandfather Randolph, whose plot was 30 acres. “That was one heck of a field in those days,” says the brothers’ father, David, now semi-retired. “It all had to be done manually.” With mechanization, the Pfeils planted as many as 500 acres of peanuts in the 1950s….

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For More Than 80 Years, This Small Town Has Hosted One Of The Longest-Running Festivals In Texas

by Katie Lawrence, Only in Your State

I hope you aren’t allergic to peanuts because the Floresville Peanut Festival in Texas is all about them. This small-town festival honors America’s favorite sandwich ingredient, which grows abundantly in the region. Guests enjoy a parade, carnival rides, and – of course – tons of delicious, peanutty food. You can’t miss it!

Every year on the second full weekend of October, the small town of Floresville “goes nuts” for the annual Floresville Peanut Festival.

Established in 1938, the festival pays homage to the humble peanut, which has played a vital role in Southwest Texas agriculture for nearly 100 years.

The dates for this year’s festival are October 12-14, 2023.

Both admission and parking are free, and the action happens on the grounds of Floresville’s beautiful Courthouse Square (where you’ll find an aptly-placed peanut statue that is a memorial to Joe T. Sheehy, who introduced peanut farming to the area).

Even before the official opening day of the festival, activities are already taking place. For example, the Goober Games are held on Tuesday, allowing the younger folks to participate in events such as sack races, face painting, and more.

Thursday evening kicks off the carnival, which features fun games and exhilarating rides. If you can’t make it into town early, however, don’t fret – the carnival stays through Saturday evening….

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New Business Ventures and New Residents Are Waking up to the Charms of Floresville

Business View Civil and Municipal, July 2023

At a Glance: Floresville, Texas

What: Peanut Capital of Texas and a dynamic and growing community with small-town charm

Where: On the outskirts of San Antonio, Texas

Website: floresvilletx.gov

I am the proud City Manager of the great city of Floresville,” Andy Joslin, the City’s Manager remarked when Business View caught up with Floresville officials to discuss the obvious charms of this quaint and lively little city.

One would find it hard to disagree with Joslin after learning of the many attributes that this Texas gem has on offer. Residents can testify to the ease of living in the area and with lively historical roots tracing back to 1867, Floresville has earned its place among great Texas cities.

Joslin adds to his description of the city relaying that “Floresville serves as a county seat and is both a historically and culturally diverse home to an ever-increasing number of residents and businesses looking for an intimate community near San Antonio.”

New residents are drawn to the area

“We are getting a lot of people that are moving from the San Antonio area that may still work there because it is still an area where many of the businesses and big corporations are, but they want to get to an area where they can raise their children.”

A great place indeed for families as Floresville’s school district is highly ranked and is a pull for families looking to provide quality education for their children as they settle into life in Floresville.

Residents are coming here and building homes and they are becoming part of the community. We are centrally located between San Antonio and Eagle Ford Shale region down in Kenedy and Karnes City, so a lot of the executives that come from other parts of the country to run these oil companies want to move to our community,” Joslin elaborates.

Historical roots and current trends

Like any dynamic modern city, history plays an integral role in both the evolution and current positioning of an area and Floresville is no exception. The community can trace its roots back to the  early days of the Spanish settlers who, once discovering the merits of the area, began to establish both ranchos and missions dotted along the San Antonio River. Using this key waterway as an efficient route to ship supplies elsewhere, these early settlers and the missions left behind, have now become part of the historical fabric of this beautiful region of Texas.

Fast forwarding to the recent past, Floresville has been able to profit from the close proximity to San Antonio and some of the leading gas and oil companies in the country to help grow its residential base to just shy of 8,000 inhabitants as of the last 2020 population census.

Residential and Commercial Development

It is this growth that the city is both capturing and capitalizing on, according to Joslin. The city has been working closely with key developers on both the residential and commercial side to help accommodate this growth and provide the very best living amenities for its current residents and all those that are choosing to call Floresville their new home.

“We have a number of key housing developments in the works with specific developers and we do have a large number of residential developments that are coming into the area,” Joslin says.

“Some of these key developers include DR Horton and we have a golf course community known as Riverbend. DR Horton is the community developer on that one,” Monica Veliz, Assistant City Manager relays.

“This development will consist of 1000 homes once it is final and complete. They are working on that in phases out there,” she adds.

Housing options consist mainly of single-detached family homes as this is what the need seems to be, according to Veliz.

“They are looking for affordable housing for those first-time homebuyers and those young families that are wanting to have a place of their own,” she insists.

Veliz is quick to point out that it is not just residential development that is filling the Floresville area, so too are key commercial developments with steady interest being shown by companies eyeing the community as a great place to set up shop.

“Commercial development is coming in just as strong, and it’s catching up to our residential development and we are trying to keep up with this [demand].”

Both Joslin and Veliz have identified the growing need for more retail options to cater to those already living in the community and those who are moving in or planning to move to Floresville.

“This is something that we will need to bring,” Veliz begins. “Retail options such as different types of clothing stores, different types of restaurants, and things like this.”

Among the varied businesses that have kept Floresville in their commercial sights is Petco. Already established in the Floresville area, this is not the standard Petco that so many of us are accustomed to. It is rather a hybrid pet and agricultural and farming supply store of sorts.

This is the first type of Petco that they have branched off with, I believe,” Veliz states. “It is considered a neighborhood and farm-based store because we are in an agriculturally-based area. They offer different types of products that farmers would use that you would not typically see in a big city-type of Petco setting.”

Joslin interjects to add that “for the opening of Petco, we saw a lot of national exposure with CNN reporting on the opening” because of the unique business model for this area.

“We are getting a lot of the commercial business developers from the San Antonio area and then also nationally that want to come to this area with a different type of business plan. They are developing new models in their business that will fit perfectly within our community,” Joslin expands.

There are a few reasons why this business trend for Floresville is occurring, Veliz highlights.

“I think it relates to the affordability of the community and being able to give people that hometown feeling,” she reflects.

“You can walk into just about any type of store here in the town that we have and it is also [attributed to] that very warm feeling that draws residents [and commercial interests] in.”

On the purely fiscal end, Veliz attributes how low tax rates make it that much more favorable for businesses to take up shop in the area, along with the ability of the city to not charge ‘impact fees’.

“I think that is something very inviting because we work with many different developers and businesses and that is always the first thing they ask us—do you charge impact fees?”

Peanut Capital of Texas and other perks

Floresville has worked hard to preserve its charming downtown hub, both in maintaining some of its historical buildings, as well as ensuring that everything a resident could want and need is concentrated in this community gathering area.

“The great thing about our downtown area is that you have everything here. You have a city hall, the county courthouse, the library, the tax office, and a movie theater—a one-stop shop,” Veliz recounts enthusiastically.

Adding to the small-town community spirit that Floresville residents enjoy is an array of events that the city puts on throughout the year. Top of that list is the annual, renowned Floresville Peanut Festival every October. Businesses have grown alongside the festival, most notably Ms. Annie’s Peanut Patch which is known worldwide for its delectable peanut butter brittle.

“We are known as the Peanut Capital of Texas,” Joslin notes. Just another claim to fame, it can be argued, for a city that is clearly making its mark.

What the future holds

Among the top priorities for the city, direct sustainable infrastructure initiatives can be included.

“We are about to have our ribbon cutting on a new water well that we’re drilling,” Joslin highlights.

“The project should be completed in late June. So due to the growth, we are adding another water well to our community and the city council authorized us to borrow $14.2 million for infrastructure needs,” he adds.

“We are working on extending the water and wastewater lines to areas where we are seeing growth in addition to replacing some of our older infrastructure.”

Beyond ongoing and proposed infrastructure upgrades, Joslin articulates other aspirations he has for the city of Floresville in the coming months.

“My goal and my purpose is to continuously attract more businesses, and more amenities for our residents. We want to be a welcoming community, both for our current residents and our future ones, to let them know that Floresville is the place to be.”

When asked the same question, Veliz nods in agreement. “My thoughts are along the same line. We want to grow our community and still have that small-town feeling.”

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Water Flowing at New Floresville Well

by William Gibbs, Jr., Wilson County News

The COVID-19 pandemic, a deep freeze, and a floundering national economy all proved to be formidable foes, but they did not overcome the city’s Plaza Well project, which now is online.

City employees, elected officials, and guests met at the site off U.S. 181 Aug. 9 for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of the almost $2.9 million well, which was financed with assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Brady Kosub of M&S Engineering said the well replaces an older unit that had to be decommissioned at the site after its gravel filter failed and a casing cracked, allowing a small quantity of oil to seep into the water. He said the new well — which draws water from the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer — has a depth of 1,040 feet, well below the water table that is at approximately 220 feet.

“The new well produces 60 percent more water than the old well,” Kosub said. “With regular maintenance, it’s going to last a long time….”

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San Antonio Missions 2022 World Heritage Accomplishment Report

National Park Service

The 2022 World Heritage Site Annual Accomplishment Report celebrates the achievements of the many partners that preserve San Antonio Missions World Heritage Site. San Antonio Missions World Heritage Site encompasses five missions along the San Antonio River basin, as well as a mission ranch located in Floresville, Texas.

These sites are living, dynamic sites central to community identity & cultural continuity. Through events such as the World Heritage Festival, History and Genealogy Day, Dia de los Muertos, San Antonio POW WOW, spiritual ceremonies, hikes, fishing, kayaking and more, the report shows that these places are centers of community identity, culture, and recreation. The community efforts seen in this report shows how San Antonio Missions are at the heart of the city.

To manage, preserve, and share the site’s treasures, it takes the work of the National Park Service and its many partners like Mission Heritage Partners, San Antonio River Authority, The Alamo, Archdiocese of San Antonio – Las Misiones, City of San Antonio World Heritage Office, and Bexar County. The report highlights the accomplishments of the World Heritage Management Group and our primary partners toward the preservation and protection of the World Heritage Site. Looking forward, San Antonio Missions World Heritage Site is excited to keep working with partners to provide even more opportunities for education, research, and recreation.

It is through interpretation, education, and preservation of the Spanish colonial features identified in the Outstanding Universal Value of the UNESCO inscription, that we will ensure the park and its outstanding universal value endures for generations to come. To do this, we will continue to work as partners to find solutions to preservation challenges of the 21st century. The 2022 accomplishment report is a testament to what can be achieved when community partners work together in shared stewardship, a core value of the National Park Service….

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Inside a New Floresville Restaurant Serving Juicy Burgers, Loaded Pizzas, and Steaks

by Lexi Haxlett, KENS 5

If you travel southeast of San Antonio, you’re heading toward a booming town with good eats at a new restaurant.

It’s called Old 181 Bar & Grill. They’re located 1519 3rd Street in Floresville.

“For the growth here, I think we needed that [Old 181]. We have one other local restaurant that everybody loves to go to, but nothing is open after 9 p.m. here. So, this is just a great location for us and for the community,” said owner and partner, Rose Cruz.

They“re known for their scratch-made kitchen, with the most popular orders being their burgers and their pizza….

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Floresville Development in 2022 Includes Arrival of Petco

by Gregory Ripps, Wilson County News

A number of events in 2022 signaled continued development in Floresville.

Ribbon cuttings and groundbreakings have become frequent events in Floresville, largely due to the demands of a growing population, as well as the efforts of the Floresville Economic Development Corp. (FEDC) and other entities.

However, it’s not so common that a major national retailer opens a first-of-its-kind store in the city. This was the case with the June 17 opening of the Petco Neighborhood Farm & Pet Supply.

The one-stop shop, which offers food and accessories for farm animals as well as companion animals, serves as a model for other such Petco centers planned for small towns and rural communities across the United States….

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Inside RX Baked Goods and Coffee Corner in Floresville

by Lexi Haxlett, KENS 5

Calling all with a sweet tooth: there’s two small town businesses that each have a big menu to choose from. They operate in the same building, and recently opened to the public.

The businesses are RX Baked Goods and Coffee Corner. Their building is located on 1301 Hospital Boulevard in Floresville.

First, we spoke to owner and founder of RX Baked Goods, Roseann Ximenez. She told us how they’re, “Two separate businesses, but we’ve come together to do what we both do best individually, even better together.”

Her initials are RX, and for those familiar with the healthcare company, GoodRX, it’s a little play on words as she said her products can “cure” any sweet tooth.

“I always had a dream to open a bakery. I didn’t know that it would happen in my hometown,” said Ximenez. “I just had a knack for baking.”

She has a background in corporate accounting, so she told us how she can successfully run the books for her own business. And the business all started with her iconic chocolate chip cookies. It’s what people would order the most before she founded her brick and mortar business….

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Pape-Dawson Wins Contract for City’s Hike and Bike Trail

by Kim Johnson, Wilson County News

Pape-Dawson Engineers has been awarded the design contract for improvements to the Floresville El Camino Trail.

Floresville City Finance Director Cynthia Sturm and City Manager Andy Joslin presented the firm’s quote of $200,967 to the city’s six-member Hike & Bike Trail committee at their Sept. 21 meeting.

The price quoted, according to Sturm, includes project management, trail and drainage design, traffic control, environmental and landscape plans, survey, environmental permit, utility coordination, Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation certification, geotechnical engineering services, and construction phase services.

“[Pape-Dawson] will be present throughout the project, making sure their design is followed,” Sturm said. “And they’ll be coming to the committee for approval on the design options for amenities.”

“Once the design is completed, [the project] will open up for construction bids,” she explained.

Following some discussion, the committee voted to recommend the firm’s proposal for approval by the Floresville City Council. It was presented to and approved by the council the following night.

Plans for the $927,000 two-mile trail improvement project, funded in part by a grant from Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), will include a wider paved trail with lights, benches, and disabled access ramps….

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Petco Is Launching Stores for a New Group of Customers: Cows, Goats and Horses

by Parija Kavilanz, CNN

NEW YORK – Horses, cows, goats, pigs and sheep have food and grooming needs, too, and Petco is stepping up to deliver its products and services to their owners.

Petco announced Thursday it is launching a new, smaller store concept that’s specifically designed to meet the needs of both pets and farm animals in small towns and rural communities.

The first Petco Neighborhood Farm & Pet Supply store is set to open June 17 in Floresville, Texas, which is 28 miles southeast of San Antonio. The pet supplies and services retailer said the new store will carry a curated assortment of food products and services, including mobile vaccination, grooming, and self-service stations for owners to wash their farm animals.

In partnership with Petco Love (formerly the Petco Foundation), the neighborhood farm and pet supply locations will offer adoption services and other health and wellness programs to further support local pets. Customers can also buy “companion animals” like guinea pigs, hamsters, birds, reptiles and amphibians at the store, as is the case at some existing outlets.

Similar to Petco’s city stores, the neighborhood stores will offer same-day delivery and curbside pickup.

Petco CEO Ron Coughlin said in a statement that small towns and rural communities “are rapidly-growing markets” for the pet care industry. “This is an exciting opportunity for us to serve more pets by dramatically expanding local access to healthy pet products and services.”

The company, which operates more than 1,300 locations in the US, said it expects to open a handful of these stores in 2022 as the company strives to expand its market beyond urban centers….

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Petco Opening First Neighborhood Farm & Pet Supply for Rural Communities in Floresville

by Rebecca Salinas, KSAT 12 TV San Antonio

SAN ANTONIO – A Petco for rural pets and farm animals is opening this week in Floresville.

The company said that the new store, called Neighborhood Farm & Pet Supply, was designed to serve pets and farm animals in the rural community.

The Floresville location will be Petco’s first test location and it will open on Friday in the 300 block of 10th St.

It will include supplies and services for pets and farm animals such as horses, cows, pigs, sheep, goats and more, a news release states.

“These are rapidly-growing markets where pet parents are looking for an experienced, pet-dedicated partner like Petco to help them care for the health and wellness of their animals,” Petco CEO Ron Coughlin said in a news release. “This is an exciting opportunity for us to serve more pets by dramatically expanding local access to healthy pet products and services.”

The store will offer adoption services, health and wellness programs, farm and feed assortment, mobile vaccination and grooming services, self-wash stations, same-day delivery, and curbside pickup.

Additional Neighborhood Farm & Pet Supply are expected to open in the U.S. depending on the success of the test location, the release states….

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Lennar to Build 94 Homes in New Floresville Community

by Steven Santana, MySA

National homebuilder Lennar Homes broke ground Thursday, June 9, on a new residential community about 30 minutes south of San Antonio. Lodi Grove will be a 94-home community and Lennar’s first-ever in Floresville, Texas.

The homes are scheduled for a grand opening in summer 2023 and will include large living and kitchen spaces, a resort-style master bedroom, and modern technology features, according to a news release from Lennar.

Located at Hwy. 181 N. and CR 130, future residents of Lodi Grove will have access to outdoor amenities like walking trails and kids of Lodi Grove will attend Floresville ISD schools. The neighborhood is also adjacent to a Walmart, and Floresville has nine community parks.

“Floresville is growing quickly, particularly among young residents wanting proximity to San Antonio but without the urban congestion,” said Brian Barron, San Antonio division president for Lennar, in a news release.

Lennar says the home in Lodi Grove will be competitively priced. The median sales price of a home in Floresville in 2022 is $385,000, according to Redfin….

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