HTeaO, a fast-growing iced tea franchise headquartered in Fort Worth, is planning a major expansion into South Texas, with its first Rio Grande Valley location potentially opening in Brownsville.
According to filings with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), the proposed Brownsville location will be built at 205 Rocky Road. The new 1,705-square-foot building is expected to cost just over $1.15 million and will include an HTeaO tea bar, a 218-square-foot cooler/freezer, a single-lane drive-thru, and a single-bay dumpster. Construction is slated to begin in late May and wrap up by the end of November, though state filings are subject to change.
The Brownsville site is part of a broader push into the Valley. Additional locations are planned in Port Isabel, Harlingen, and Edinburg, with construction costs ranging from $1.29 million to nearly $1.3 million. All four projects are expected to be completed later this year, marking the company’s first-ever footprint in the Rio Grande Valley. Currently, the nearest HTeaO location is in Corpus Christi, more than 130 miles away.
Founded in 2009 in Amarillo as a small family business, HTeaO was officially established as a franchise brand in 2018. The company is known for its wide range of flavored iced teas, including “Secret Menu” blends inspired by treats like blueberry muffins and piña coladas, as well as traditional Southern sweet tea. Today, HTeaO operates more than 150 locations across 14 states, with hundreds more in development.