Fort Worth-based iced-tea chain HTeaO is gearing up for a major splash in the Rio Grande Valley, with four new locations in the pipeline and a $1.15 million Brownsville build leading the charge. If permits clear and construction stays on track, these will be the brand’s first outposts in the Valley, pushing its South Texas footprint well beyond its current nearest store in Corpus Christi. State filings point to construction kicking off on at least one site in late May and wrapping by November, as reported by MySanAntonio.
What the permits show
According to MySanAntonio, Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation records list the Brownsville project at 205 Rocky Road as a 1,705-square-foot building with an “HTeaO Tea Bar,” a 218-square-foot cooler/freezer, a single-lane drive-thru and a single-bay dumpster. The filing pegs the project cost at just over $1.15 million and schedules construction to start at the end of May, with completion expected by the end of November.
HTeaO's rapid growth and roots
HTeaO traces its origins to a small family side business in the Texas Panhandle and has operated as a franchise brand since 2018, with corporate offices in the Fort Worth area. The company has been expanding quickly: the Houston Chronicle reports that HTeaO has grown to roughly 170 stores across 14 states and opened dozens of locations in 2025, growth that helps explain its latest move into the Valley.
Four Valley sites mapped
TDLR filings also outline three additional Rio Grande Valley projects in Port Isabel, Harlingen and Edinburg, each carrying six-figure construction budgets. The Port Isabel site is listed at about $1.29 million and the Edinburg project at roughly $1.3 million, MySanAntonio reports. All four Valley builds are marked in state records as slated for completion later this year, which would make them the first HTeaO locations in the region.
What this could mean locally
Industry and local business reporting suggest HTeaO’s numbers can look different depending on the market. Fort Worth coverage has put a typical franchise investment at around $750,000, including a $40,000 franchise fee, while the Rio Grande Valley permit figures reflect full new-construction and site-work budgets. Fort Worth Inc. and other trade outlets have highlighted HTeaO’s busy development pipeline, and the Houston Chronicle reports the brand opened 36 stores in 2025 and has more than 40 openings planned for 2026, pointing to sustained momentum behind these South Texas projects.
As always with commercial construction, timelines and permits can shift as franchise owners finalize site plans and work through approvals. Local tea fans will have to sit tight for now, but we will update this space once the company or local officials confirm opening dates and grand-opening details.
