GiGi's Deli, the tiny but much-loved sandwich counter tucked inside El Tigre Coffee Roasters at St. Paul Square, is hitting pause. Service will stop starting Sunday, April 19 and run through June while chef-owner Matt Garcia turns his attention to opening his first full-service restaurant. For regulars, the break means a temporary halt to the deli's breakfast-and-lunch routine and a breather for an operation that climbed from pop-ups to neighborhood fixture status.
According to CultureMap San Antonio, GiGi's announced the hiatus in an Instagram post and confirmed the April 19 through June pause so Garcia can focus on Miles, his first full-service concept. The sandwich counter has been operating out of El Tigre's St. Paul Square location since last year, after a 2021 pop-up evolved into a permanent residency, as reported by MySA. Those early pop-up days at Little Death helped GiGi's build the loyal crowd that followed it into a brick-and-mortar presence in late 2025.
About Miles
Miles is billed by Garcia as a "San Antonio-inspired bar and bistro" that will feature classic cocktails and a thoughtful wine list. He is teaming up with El Tigre owner Tatanka Guerrero on the project, which is headed to a nearby space that once housed Francis Bogside, according to CultureMap San Antonio. "Gigi's is a one-man band - and I can't be in two places at once," Garcia told the outlet, explaining why the deli will step back while Miles gets built out. He is keeping details on the menu and opening timeline close, but says the goal is a focused neighborhood third place built around considered drinks.
St. Paul Square context
The move lands at a time when St. Paul Square is quietly reshaping itself. El Tigre opened at 123 Heiman St. last year, and the district has seen multiple concept turnovers and relocations in recent seasons, leaving open pockets of commercial space for new operators, per Community Impact. Garcia's jump from counter service to a full-scale bar and bistro follows a familiar San Antonio pattern, where pop-ups and residencies grow into larger projects. GiGi's has asked followers to keep an eye on the deli's Instagram for updates during the break, and Garcia has said he plans to stay locked in on Miles until the buildout is complete.
