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Roxie's Is Coming to Mercer Street — What We Know About Dripping's Most Anticipated Opening

Jordan Blackburn · March 12, 2026

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Roxie's Is Coming to Mercer Street — What We Know About Dripping's Most Anticipated Opening

If you've been watching the 299 W. Mercer Street address with any kind of anticipation, your patience is about to pay off.

Roxie's, a Southern comfort food concept from the family behind the legendary Salt Lick BBQ, is targeting a 2026 opening in the heart of Dripping Springs' downtown corridor. Here's what we know so far — and why this one feels like a big deal.

The Salt Lick Connection

Roxie's is the brainchild of Scott Roberts, whose family has operated Salt Lick BBQ in Driftwood for decades. If you've ever driven out on FM 1826 on a Sunday and seen cars lining the shoulder for half a mile, you know what the Roberts family can do with hospitality and a well-fed crowd.

Roxie's is a different concept — Southern comfort food rather than Texas BBQ — but the pedigree is unmistakable. Think fried chicken, homemade pies, and a full bar. It's a menu built for lingering, not just takeout.

The Mercer Street Location

299 W. Mercer Street puts Roxie's right in the thick of Dripping's walkable downtown dining strip — close to where locals already gather on weekends and where foot traffic continues to grow as the community expands.

For a town that's been watching its dining scene develop in fits and starts, a comfort-food anchor from a respected Texas food family is the kind of addition that changes the texture of a neighborhood. It signals that Dripping Springs isn't just attracting chains — it's drawing homegrown Texas operators with a genuine point of view.

A Second Location in Buda

Roxie's is also building a location at the historic Buda Mill & Grain Co., which tells you something about the scale and ambition behind the concept. This isn't a one-off experiment — it's a full launch in two distinct but complementary Texas Hill Country communities.

If the Buda location opens first, it'll give Dripping residents an early preview of what's headed to Mercer Street.

What We Don't Know Yet

No official opening date has been confirmed as of March 2026. Construction timelines can be unpredictable, and a "2026 opening" window leaves a lot of runway.

We also don't have confirmed hours, pricing, or a full launch menu — just the concept outline and a location. As details surface, we'll update this piece.

Why It Matters

Dripping Springs has been on the receiving end of national retail attention lately — yes, Target is coming. But Roxie's represents something different: a locally rooted restaurant brand, built by a Texas family, choosing to plant a flag downtown.

That's the kind of addition that builds a food identity for a town — one that residents can be proud of and that draws curious visitors from Austin and the broader Hill Country.

Keep an eye on 299 W. Mercer Street. Something good is coming.

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