King Buffet is turning a former Hyundai dealership along Interstate 35 in New Braunfels, Texas, into a restaurant, giving a building designed to display cars an unexpectedly logical second life as a large buffet.
Texas construction records describe a $950,000 conversion of the 10,666-square-foot property. The filing lists a projected construction completion date of Dec. 15, although King Buffet has not announced a public opening date.
A Former Car Dealership Is Becoming a 10,666-Square-Foot Buffet
The unusual starting point is part of what makes the project notable. Former dealerships offer broad floor plates, substantial parking and high visibility along major roads — three things a large buffet also tends to appreciate. What they do not offer is a ready-made commercial kitchen, which explains the scope of the conversion work.
King Buffet already operates in San Antonio, so New Braunfels appears to be a regional expansion rather than a completely new restaurant concept. The company has not yet published detailed menu or pricing information for the new location, and no firm grand-opening schedule has surfaced.
King Buffet Already Operates Elsewhere in the San Antonio Market
The project also reflects a recurring real-estate pattern across modern buffet development. Older casual-dining boxes, supermarkets and other oversized commercial spaces are frequently being repurposed for restaurants that need room for multiple food stations, wide aisles and large seating counts. A former dealership simply takes that logic one step farther.
Construction, not opening, is the current milestone. If the state-filed schedule holds, the building should be substantially converted by mid-December. After that, New Braunfels can start watching for the more important sign: food behind the glass.
