Brooks to welcome at least three new restaurants in 2019 (San Antonio Business Journal)

Three new restaurants are expected to arrive at Brooks in 2019, adding to the mixed-use, multifamily, industrial and commercial projects that the former Air Force base hopes to see happen soon. As reported in November, Grupo La Gloria and Johnny Hernandez are bringing two of their popular concepts to Brooks, La Gloria and El Machito. The two restaurants will be some of the first retailers to occupy space next to the newly built Greenline, a 43-acre linear park. Despite initial reports of the restaurants opening by the end of 2018, Brooks has confirmed that both restaurants aren’t expected to open until Fall 2019.

These new spots will be preceded by Southerleigh’s new restaurant and brewery, which has also been delayed, and is expected to open in May 2019. As reported in December, the 8,043-square-foot restaurant will also sit along the Greenline, just off of Sidney Brooks and Kennedy Hill Drive. The restaurant will feature a large deck and outdoor space so patrons can enjoy the outdoors when the weather is right.

Brooks’ property tax-free status and willingness to accept creative development has helped it attract tenants that may not have moved there otherwise, CEO Leo Gomez said.

“Our job is to alleviate the risk for our operators, and our willingness to do so is what landed us Johnny and Southerleigh,” Gomez said.

Also in the pipeline is GFR Development’s City Base Commons, which is under construction at the far west corner of Brooks at Southeast Military Drive and South Presa Street. The 54,392-square-foot retail center has secured multiple tenants including Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers, Smoothie King, Jimmy John’s and McAlister’s Deli.

Farther down the pipeline and more centrally located within Brooks is the planned Brooks Towncenter.

Brooks Towncenter, the planning for which is in the early stages, is an 80-acre development that will feature restaurant pad sites, high-density multifamily developments and townhouses, Gomez said.

Meanwhile, Brooks has issued a request for qualifications seeking developers interested in building a 300-unit independent senior living facility there.