Tin Man Filling Station, the El Paso-born growler bar that has turned into a regional go-to for beer lovers, looks closer than ever to landing on San Antonio's North Side at 17910 Bulverde Road. A fresh state permit filing has breathed new life into neighborhood chatter about the project, which has been stalled for more than a year. The company still has not said when it will officially open.
According to CultureMap San Antonio, Tin Man first submitted state regulatory paperwork for the Bulverde location in November 2024 and teased the San Antonio move on Instagram in December 2024. CultureMap reports that the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation initially projected construction would wrap up by April 2025, and that a new Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission permit filing is what has locals perking up again. The outlet also notes that Tin Man did not immediately respond to its requests for comment.
El Paso roots and expansion
The Tin Man concept began in El Paso in 2016, when entrepreneurs Kenji Shigematsu and Moises Valdez opened the first shop and slowly expanded the brand around the Sun City. The operation built a loyal following with a steady rotation of Texas taps and regular promotions that kept beer fans coming back. That early rise was chronicled by Fusion Magazine.
What it will serve
The Bulverde outpost is expected to stick closely to Tin Man’s El Paso playbook: on-site pours, rotating taps, cans and 64-ounce growler fills to go. Previous locations have also featured food pop-ups, board games and hand-painted keg stools to give each space its own neighborhood vibe. Tin Man is listed as a craft beer growler filling station on Visit El Paso.
Permits and what could slow an opening
According to the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, filing for a permit is a key step but does not mean a business can open right away. The licensing division runs applications through the Alcohol Industry Management System, and approvals can require additional local permits, bonds and inspections. Those extra layers are often what stretch the timeline between a paperwork filing and an actual opening. In the end, local city approvals and inspections will determine when alcohol service can start at the Bulverde address.
San Antonio reaction
San Antonio beer fans have been peppering social media with questions about when Tin Man will finally arrive, and CultureMap San Antonio notes that many of the chain’s posts draw comments pleading, “What about San Antonio?”. If the Bulverde location comes to fruition, it would add a neighborhood-style taproom to the North Side’s growing lineup of smaller beer bars. For now, though, the timeline is still fuzzy while permits and approvals inch forward.
The Bulverde address remains the strongest signal that Tin Man’s North Side plans are moving ahead, but there is still no firm opening date. Until regulators and the company sign off on final approvals, San Antonio drinkers will have to wait a bit longer for that first local Tin Man pour.
