San Antonio-born boba mini-chain Artea is heading for the Far North Side, with a new café planned for 21114 US-281 in the Encino Commons retail strip. State records filed this week show the company has lined up an interior finish-out for roughly 3,148 square feet and is budgeting about $900,000 for the build, with work slated to start in June and run into the fall. The project would stretch Artea beyond its Ridgehaven and Culebra Commons shops and add a locally run option to a part of the city already crowded with both independents and franchise chains.
State Filing Spells Out Size, Timeline and Price Tag
According to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, Artea registered Project TABS2026018967 on April 29, 2026, for an "Artea-Interior Finish-Out" at 21114 US 281. The record lists a June 1, 2026, start date and an estimated completion of November 1, 2026, along with an estimated cost of $900,000 and a project footprint of 3,148 square feet. The filing identifies the facility as Dominion Holdings Development - Encino Commons LTD and lists tenant and design contacts for the buildout.
Local Roots and a Viral Specialty
Artea's website lists its original Ridgehaven shop at 6362 De Zavala Road and a Culebra Commons outpost, per the brand's locations page. The shop also gained wider attention for a photo-ready "bonsai" milk tea, described in local coverage as a "drinkable bonsai" topped with fresh mint and Oreo "soil," per the San Antonio Express-News.
Earlier Reporting Flagged a Park North Plan
In September 2025, CultureMap San Antonio reported that Artea was converting a former credit union at 602 N.W. Loop 410 #114 in Park North and noted the brand had been targeting a May 2026 finish for that site. That earlier coverage also highlighted Artea's pan-Asian small plates alongside its beverage menu, underscoring how the concept mixes drinks and food to anchor neighborhood cafés.
What to Expect
Patrons can likely expect the same mix of loose-leaf teas, boba lattes and rice or noodle bowls that helped the brand stand out when it debuted. Local coverage of Artea's original Ridgehaven opening described the shop's loose-leaf teas and small bites as part of its initial draw, per KSAT.
With the TDLR registration now public, build permits and storefront work should start to appear in the coming weeks, and far-north customers and nearby retailers will likely watch for an official opening date once interior work progresses. For now, the filing offers the clearest signal yet that Artea is moving northward on San Antonio’s retail map.
