WACO, TX (KWTX) – The wait for Woodway’s first dining hall is over as Union Grove officially opened its doors to the public on Wednesday.
Union Grove is located off Woodway Drive and is the second dining concept in the Waco area from Union Brands Eateries. Their first was Union Hall in downtown Waco.
Owner and founder Todd Behringer said Union Hall’s success proves that food trucks can run indoors in a smaller space, not have extreme overhead and be successful without having to depend on the weather.
It also gives customers more options in one stop.
“We found that it was more of a permanent place for these people than just a temporary move into bricks and mortar,” Behringer told KWTX. “So by expanding the concept to have more room, more events, an outdoor courtyard, more private areas for meetings or events — the idea that micro restaurants come into play — we feel like it’s kind of a wave of the future where you can really get the synergy of all the restaurants creating more volume, which actually helps everybody.”
Union Grove has more than 25 specialty vendor locations and features everything from pizza and street tacos to Tex-Mex, chicken wings, authentic Vietnamese and Thai dishes, and burgers and shakes.
If you’re looking for specialty drinks, Pop’s Lemonade has you covered.
So is Zuke’s Tea Bar, which boasts a wide variety of unique drinks for tea lovers.
One of the most iconic burger joints in all of Central Texas is opening its second location for the first time in nearly 75 years.
Health Camp, located on Waco Circle, has been a mainstay since 1948. Trent Neumann purchased the original location in January, and while he didn’t buy it with plans to expand, the opportunity was too good to pass up, he said.
“We wanted to bring Woodway and the west side of Waco milkshakes and cheeseburgers,” Neumann said. “I’m actually very excited. I think it will be great. I think people here really need a good place to go for milkshakes and burgers.
If you’re looking for desserts and pastries, Union Grove has you covered.
Southern Charm Creamery serves creams and ice cream.
There’s also a shop full of pink called SOS Cotton Candy.
The unique cotton candy vendor offers the traditional sweet treat, but also puts a spin on other options like maple bacon and lavender lemonade-flavored cotton candy.
Cotton candy won’t be the only thing kids flock to.
Union Grove has an indoor space designed to look like a soccer field that also has games for kids to play.
Behringer said it’s a family atmosphere.
“Absolutely, that’s what it’s about. Everyone wants a place where everything is family-friendly,” he said. “Kids can run free indoors. They can come outdoors. Everyone wants to do things together, so we’re friendly all the time.”
Sam’s front and back porch bars are in two different areas of the indoor space.
This will provide a place for adults to enjoy more of the date night experience or a place to watch a football game on a big screen. Behringer said the design and seating were carefully considered to accommodate a variety of customers.
Union Grove will have space rental options for events, parties and other gatherings.
Behringer said there really isn’t anything like it in central Texas, and several new vendors are slated to join the establishment early in the year.
Union Grove will be open from 11am to 9pm Tuesday to Thursday and 11am to 10pm Friday to Sunday.
They are closed on Mondays.
For a complete list of vendors you can go to Union Grove Vendors | Unionbrands Dining (unionbrandstexas.com).
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