HTeaO is bringing its drive-thru iced tea and water concept to Albuquerque, where a store is under construction.
The Albuquerque location is among additional stores HTeaO has in development across the state, according to Albuquerque Business First. The chain also has an Alamogordo location at 630 White Sands Blvd. and a Rio Rancho store expected to open in the first quarter of 2027. HTeaO currently operates seven stores in New Mexico.
The Rio Rancho location has received site-plan approval, the outlet reported.
Some HTeaO locations offer drive-thru and in-store service.
Tea and Water, Side by Side
Alongside its roughly 20 iced tea flavors, HTeaO stores feature water-filtration systems and water products, as Hoodline previously reported on the chain's West El Paso opening.
The brand traces back to 2009 in Amarillo, Texas, when Gary and Kim Hutchens launched a drive-thru iced tea stand called Texas Tea attached to Hutchens' Buns Over Texas burger restaurant, according to Entrepreneur. The concept rebranded to HTeaO and began franchising in 2018.
Fresh Leadership and Private Equity Fuel
HTeaO's current growth spurt is backed by serious capital and new leadership. Dallas-based private equity firms Crux Capital and Trive Capital completed a growth investment in April 2026, taking a majority stake in the company. A Business Wire release described HTeaO as having more than 180 locations across 11 states. HTeaO opened nine new stores in that quarter alone, across Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas.
That capital arrived alongside a leadership change: in August 2026, HTeaO named Brian Wise, the former chief operating officer of Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers, as its new chief executive, while co-founder Justin Howe moved into the role of Executive Chairman of the Board. Wise previously served as chief operating officer of Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers.
The results have already shown up in the numbers. HTeaO posted $147 million in systemwide sales across its franchise network in 2025, a 26.7% jump over the prior year, as reported by Nation's Restaurant News, with the growth coinciding with the chain's entry into several new states.
Following a Familiar Expansion Playbook
Hoodline has covered HTeaO's opening in Conroe, Texas.
For now, Albuquerque residents will have to wait for the planned HTeaO location to open.
