Pull to refresh
Logo
What Changed
Following Why Sign Up
Fresa's Chicken secures mixed-beverage license for East 51st Street location

Fresa's Chicken secures mixed-beverage license for East 51st Street location

Rule Changes Austin, TX local

TABC issued the permit October 20; the November 1 first-sales date on its state filing has passed, and its website does not list the address

October 20th, 2026: Texas issues mixed-beverage license to Fresa's Cuatro

Overview

Updated Oct 24

Texas regulators issued a mixed-beverage license to Fresa's Cuatro, LLC for 1418 E 51st St in Austin on October 20. The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission permit lets the restaurant sell beer, wine and spirits there.

The license followed a September permit application and a legal notice published in August. A state sales tax filing lists the address as Suite 100 and put first sales on November 1. As of November 10, Fresa's website featured its South First Street and Westlake restaurants, with no mention of the East 51st Street address.

Why it matters

A full bar would let Fresa's pour margaritas at its planned fourth Austin location near Mueller.

Last Monday's email for Austin, TX

Sent Nov 9. It carried:

Get next Monday's: one short email a week. Free. Unsubscribe in one click.

Questions about this story

Free account needed to ask — your question is kept and asked for you right after sign-up. Answers are public.

No questions yet — be the first to ask.

Key Indicators

2026-10-20
License issue date
The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission issued the mixed-beverage license on this date.
Nov 1
First sales listed
Date given for first sales on the company's state sales tax permit filing, as reported by Openings Soon TX.
$1.5M
Estimated construction cost
Reported for the Mueller outpost in a January 2024 WhatNow article.
4th
Planned location
WhatNow and the Austin American-Statesman called the Mueller outpost the brand's fourth location.

Voices

Curated perspectives — historical figures and your fellow readers.

Sign up to generate historical perspectives on this story.

Log in Sign Up

Organizations Involved

FC
Fresa's Cuatro, LLC
Limited liability company
Holds the mixed-beverage license issued October 20 for 1418 E 51st St

The Fresa's entity that holds the mixed-beverage license at 1418 E 51st St in Austin.
Fresa's Chicken
Fresa's Chicken
Restaurant chain
Austin-based grilled chicken concept expanding in the city

An Austin restaurant built around wood-grilled chicken, tacos and margaritas, with a Mueller-area outpost planned on East 51st Street.
Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission
Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission
State regulator
Issued the license

The state agency that regulates the sale of alcohol in Texas.

Timeline

2024 October 2026

4 events Latest: October 20th, 2026 · 3 weeks ago
Tap a bar to jump to that date

  1. Texas issues mixed-beverage license to Fresa's Cuatro

    Latest Licensing

    Texas ABC issued an MB license to Fresa's Cuatro, LLC at 1418 E 51st St, Austin.

  2. Fresa's files mixed-beverage permit application

    Licensing

    TABC records listed application no. 619908 as pending in review, alongside a food and beverage certificate application no. 647550 for the same address.

  3. Legal notice published for Fresa's permit application

    Licensing

    A notice in iPublish MarketPlace said Fresa's Cuatro, LLC, doing business as Fresa's Chicken, had applied for a mixed-beverage permit at 1418 E. 51st Street Suite 100 and named Tracy Overath, Margaret Tindall and Rene Ortiz as managers.

  4. Fresa's announces Mueller outpost plans

    Announcement

    WhatNow reported the brand's fourth location planned for 1414 E 51st St, with construction estimated at $1.5 million across 5,200 square feet.

Scenarios

1

Fresa's Chicken opens at 1418 E 51st St

Likely Resolves by Apr 20, 2027

Discussed by: Local Austin restaurant coverage (WhatNow Austin, Eater Austin)

The restaurant completes its buildout and begins serving customers at the East 51st Street address. The brand's website would list the location, or local news would report it open.

2

License lapses, East 51st location never opens

Unlikely Resolves by Oct 20, 2027

Discussed by: TABC license data

The mixed-beverage license is cancelled or expires without the restaurant opening. This would show in TABC's public license records.

Historical Context

One moment from history that rhymes with this story — and how it unfolded.

2012

Fresa's Chicken's original North Lamar location

Fresa's Chicken opened its first Austin location on North Lamar Boulevard in 2012 with a drive-thru and outdoor seating. The ownership group later added sit-down restaurants and, in 2021, decided to drop the drive-thru model to focus on casual sit-down dining.

Then

The brand added a West Austin location on N. Loop 360 in 2023.

Now

The chain planned a Mueller-area outpost, its fourth location, announced in 2024.

Why this matters now

The license at 1418 E 51st St is part of that expansion, adding a Mueller-area outpost.

Sources

(8)
+2
Texas Open Data Portal Fresa's Chicken WhatNow Austin iPublish MarketPlace Openings Soon TX Ribbon Leads Austin American-Statesman Austin American-Statesman