Work at the former Luby’s at 5307 Walzem Road in Windcrest, long tipped to become Pizza Ranch’s first Texas location, looks stalled as 2026 gets underway. Dumpster and construction-permit notices hang on the front doors, and the interior has been stripped to a blank shell. For now there is no Pizza Ranch signage and no confirmed tenant to take over the roughly 10,000-square-foot space.
A Jan. 2 site visit by MySA captured the outline of the removed Luby’s sign and permit notices taped inside the entryway. Christine R. Leyva, an agent with Cuspid Realty who manages the property, told MySA the building is undergoing “whiteboxing,” essentially a reset to a neutral interior, and that Pizza Ranch is only one option the owner is considering. Leyva said more concrete plans should be available in the coming weeks.
State Filings Point To A Planned Restaurant Conversion
Project records filed with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation list a project named "Pizza Ranch" at 5307 Walzem, covering about 9,942 square feet with an estimated $1,000,000 renovation. The filing gives a March 31, 2025 start date and an October 15 completion date and lists the owner as Walzem Retail Center LLC, with the project status marked "Review Complete." Those state documents indicate a tenant-specific buildout was planned but do not prove a signed franchise agreement.
Earlier Reports Eyed A Late 2025 Opening
In September, MySA reported that the Pizza Ranch conversion would be the chain’s first Texas location and projected an opening before the end of 2025 based on the TDLR filing. That coverage highlighted the chain’s buffet-style menu and the roughly $1 million price tag attached to the renovation. With 2026 now here, the site still shows only preparatory work rather than branding or public announcements.
What Pizza Ranch Would Mean For The Neighborhood
Pizza Ranch is a Midwestern buffet chain known for pizza and fried chicken and has grown to roughly 200 locations across multiple states. Company development staff told San Antonio Current that “we’re developing several locations in Texas right now,” and the outlet noted features such as weekend brunch buffets and in-store arcades at other stores. How that format would fit the Walzem retail corridor depends on what final tenant agreement the property owner chooses.
Next Steps And What Neighbors Should Watch
Owners and the property manager appear to be weighing options while the shell space is prepared for a tenant-specific fit-out. If a Pizza Ranch franchise is finalized, residents should expect further permit filings or a public announcement to follow. We will monitor state records and local reporting for updates on a formal lease or an opening date.
