Southern Oak Brewing Sets October 7 Grand Opening in Old Town Tomball
The wait is almost over in Old Town Tomball.
Southern Oak Brewing has officially set its grand opening for Wednesday, October 7, 2026, bringing beer brewed on site, a full food program and a broad beverage lineup to 308 Market St., the former home of Fire Ant Brewpub.
For Tomball residents who have been watching the transformation of the familiar Market Street property since Fire Ant closed in May, the announcement answers the biggest question that remained when Southern Oak first revealed its plans this summer: When will the new brewery actually open?
Now there is a date on the calendar, and considerably more is known about both the concept and the people behind it.
A New Brewery and Restaurant for Downtown Tomball
Southern Oak Brewing is being built around a straightforward idea: great food and great beer should be part of the same experience.
The Old Town Tomball brewery and restaurant plans to pair its own beers, brewed in-house, with guest taps, wine, champagne, ciders, seltzers, non-alcoholic choices and a food program designed to make the location a destination for a meal as well as a pint.
That concept is being led by Kendra and Josh Schwaiger and Tatia and Doug George, two Tomball-area families bringing years of experience in beer, hospitality, food and beverage into one business.
Together, the four owners say they have combined their different backgrounds to create a new concept intended to elevate both sides of the experience, giving as much attention to what comes out of the kitchen as what is poured from the taps.
Meet the Founders of Southern Oak Brewing
For Southern Oak, the people behind the business are an important part of the story.
Kendra and Josh Schwaiger are co-owners of Paradigm Brewing and bring more than 20 years of combined experience across the beer, sales and hospitality industries.
Their background in brewing and the broader beer business gives Southern Oak an experienced foundation as it develops its own in-house beer program in downtown Tomball.
Doug and Tatia George bring the restaurant and culinary side of the partnership.
The couple owns Graze, the Old Town Tomball restaurant that has become known locally for its food and beverage program. Before opening Graze, Doug spent 37 years as a corporate chef with ClubCorp, building a career around professional kitchens, food service and hospitality. Tatia has also spent her career working in the food and beverage industry.
Together, the two families bring experience spanning brewing, restaurant operations, culinary development, hospitality, sales and beverage service.
For customers, that combination helps explain the direction Southern Oak is taking. Rather than building a brewery that simply happens to serve food, or a restaurant that happens to pour craft beer, the owners are developing the concept around both.
It also adds a distinctly local layer to the opening. Graze is already part of Old Town Tomball’s dining scene, while Paradigm Brewing has established its own following in the area’s craft beer community.
Southern Oak now brings those backgrounds together under one roof.
A Familiar Tomball Address Gets Its Next Chapter
The location itself carries plenty of memories for local craft beer fans.
Fire Ant Brewpub operated at 308 Market St. for eight years before closing in May as owners Bruce and Sylvia Kissinger retired. During that time, the brewpub became a familiar gathering spot for birthdays, dinners, weekend outings and casual drinks with friends.
Its closure left more than an empty restaurant space. It also left a noticeable gap in Old Town Tomball’s craft beer scene.
Southern Oak Brewing is a separate business under different ownership, but its arrival means the property will once again serve much the same broader purpose: a place where brewing, food and community come together under one roof.
That continuity could matter to the surrounding Old Town Tomball business district. A brewery and restaurant capable of drawing customers for lunch, dinner or an evening out can also bring visitors within walking distance of downtown boutiques, restaurants and other locally owned businesses.
What to Expect at Southern Oak Brewing
Southern Oak’s concept centers on beer brewed at the Tomball location alongside a full kitchen and an extensive tap system.
The brewery has not yet publicly released a complete opening beer list or food menu, leaving some details for customers to discover as grand opening day approaches.
What Southern Oak has confirmed is a beverage selection intended to reach well beyond craft beer drinkers.
In addition to Southern Oak beers brewed in-house, customers can expect guest taps, wine, champagne, cider, seltzer and non-alcoholic options.
That broader approach could make the restaurant appealing to groups whose members may have very different tastes, something that matters for a business aiming to become another gathering place in downtown Tomball.
The food side of the concept is expected to be equally important.
With Doug George’s 37 years of corporate chef experience and Tatia George’s background in food and beverage, Southern Oak is positioning its kitchen as a core part of the business rather than a supporting feature.
That approach is central to the owners’ vision for Southern Oak: creating one place where the quality of the food and the quality of the beer receive equal attention.
Southern Oak Brewing Hours
Beginning with its October 7 grand opening, Southern Oak Brewing has announced the following regular schedule:
- Tuesday through Thursday: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Friday and Saturday: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Sunday: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Monday: Closed
Southern Oak Brewing is located at 308 Market St. in Downtown Tomball.
Why the Opening Matters for Old Town Tomball
For residents who remember Fire Ant, October 7 will bring something familiar back to Market Street while introducing an entirely new locally owned business.
For the Southern Oak team, it represents the culmination of months spent planning, building, brewing and bringing together two families with different but complementary areas of experience.
And for Old Town Tomball, it adds another food and beverage destination to a district that continues to give residents reasons to spend an afternoon or evening close to home.
The story of 308 Market St. did not end when Fire Ant poured its final beer in May.
Less than five months later, customers will again be walking through the doors, the brewing equipment will be back in use and a new team will begin creating its own identity in a space that already holds plenty of local memories.
This time, Kendra and Josh Schwaiger and Tatia and Doug George will be the families behind the experience, combining their backgrounds in brewing, food and hospitality as Southern Oak Brewing begins its own chapter in Downtown Tomball.
Southern Oak Brewing’s grand opening is Wednesday, October 7, 2026, at 308 Market St. in Downtown Tomball.
Stay tuned to My Neighborhood News for updates on Southern Oak Brewing, new restaurants and businesses, and what’s happening throughout Tomball and northwest Harris County.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.
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