University Star

A former restaurant space has been transformed into storefronts for several businesses new to San Marcos.

City Planning Technician Tory Carpenter said a Montana Mike’s Steakhouse used to be at the location on the corner of Interstate 35 and Hopkins Street. Ideas for developing the steakhouse into spaces for new businesses were submitted to the City of San Marcos in December 2011. The retail area is now home to Five Guys Burgers and Fries and Best Buy Mobile.

Five Guys opened Monday, Feb. 4, and Best Buy Mobile will have a ribbon cutting on Feb. 22, said Brian Bondy, president of the San Marcos Chamber of Commerce. Bondy said a check-cashing store will be located in the building, but its opening date has not yet been determined.

Chris Williams, Five Guys area supervisor, said the restaurant has attracted a large amount of customers since its opening.

“We’ve been extremely happy with the success we’ve seen so far,” Williams said. “We really love the university crowd that is coming to eat with us.”

Williams said the restaurant employs 50 people at its new San Marcos location. Williams has been with the company for more than four years and is optimistic about the future of its new location.
The restaurant opened its first location in Arlington, VA more than 20 years ago. It is now a nationwide chain with more than 1,000 locations in 47 states and 6 Canadian provinces, according to the Five Guys website.

Five Guys will be hosting fundraising events for various organizations in town or on campus, along with offering students and the community another dining establishment and providing many jobs, Williams said.

Fraternities, sororities, sports teams and other organizations may contact a general manager and set up a day to use the restaurant for fundraising events. Five Guys will give 15 percent of a group’s pretax total to the fundraiser.