Where the nexus of entrepreneurial spirit, enthusiasm and a great product meet, you have Bandera’s own Texas Salt Company.
Daniel and Andrew Almand are the creators and owners of the Texas Salt Company, newly relocated to the corner of 11th and Cypress Street and honing in on a niche industry.
According to Daniel, there are limited outlets for smoked salts and seasonings in the United States, maybe as little as six companies in the nation. Of those, maybe three of four companies provide the actual salt products, while the others purchase salt from vendors.
The Almands have greatly expanded their business in the two years (Nov. 5, 2022) since they opened their first storefront on Main Street across from Bandera Bank.
Now The Texas Salt Company provides salt and pepper for foods and salts for drinks to a wide variety of businesses across the country. Their products are in 34 stores throughout the country, including gourmet food markets as well as in meat markets.
One of their biggest markets is Alaska, where the locals love smoked products for their cuisine. The Texas Salt Company’s spices are also popular in New York.
Texas Salt Company is a major player in the food and beverage side of the industry. It goes without saying that they are spread throughout the Texas market by providing their products to hometown stores and monthly marketplace vendors.
Customers from all over the world visit Bandera and, if they are lucky, wander around the block to the Texas Salt Company. Lots of visitors interested in history stop by the Texas Salt Company Building as it is the oldest stone building in the county – built in 1855.
Daniel says his marketing now includes that historic fact to attract visitors who may be looking for a unique experience.
He has even made connections with some of the many groups that come to Bandera to show off their antique cars or their horseback riding prowess. He encourages them to park around the Salt Company to showcase their vehicles. They have even installed hitching posts in the yard for horses.
European visitors eagerly take back salt and spice products as treasured gifts and souvenirs of their time in the Cowboy Capital. Locals frequent the store as well, looking to replenish their stores of tasty seasonings.
Beyond the smoked salts, peppers, and paprika offered to customers. Spices for olive oil bread dips smoked over pecan wood and smoked salted Cowboy butter are being added to their repertoire. A dollop of their Cowboy Butter melted over a finished steak is a tasty experience not to be missed. It also works well on baked potatoes and shrimp scampi.
The Almands have carefully studied the market and have located their smoking facility on the same property as the storefront. They have built two more extra-large smokers to add extra capacity to the process. Having their production facility and store on the same property is a relief for the duo.
The company can produce two tons of smoked salt a week. Sales, most of which are online, amount to 800 pounds a week at present.
Andrew Almand admits that most of the online sales are generated by inhouse visits to the Bandera storefront.
The men also are in the process of opening a new larger store in Fredericksburg on Highway 290 and Luckenbach Road which should expand the business even more.
“We had no idea, absolutely no idea,” said Andrew.
The business which grew out of an idea for handmade Christmas gifts for family members, has taken off.
Their easy-going demeanor and astute take on seasonings have really added to their business in the Hill Country. Both are still amazed at how popular their products have become in so short a time.
The shop’s décor is a tribute to the cowboy flavor of Bandera.
They intentionally went rustic and Western. The shop’s focus is on the seasoning products displayed around the building with little distraction from kitsch artifacts and trinkets.
The cool interior of the stone building is a tribute to the old-style building techniques that were used before air conditioning was available.
The corner of the block also includes six luxury BNB apartments with kitchens decorated with various themes also owned by the Almands.
Daniel admits that the apartments are fully booked for weekends throughout the year. Return customers make the rental business successful.
The grand opening event was well attended by Bandera residents, Chamber members, and local politicos. The vendors who set up around the outdoor space at the grand opening did well according to their reports. People moved through the corner of the block to eat, drink and visit with other downtown business owners.
The Salt Company has always had a local event on the third Thursday of the month from 4 – 8 PM. They hope to keep that tradition alive and offer more events where local artisans can sell their handmade products to visitors.
“We have goals to keep that going even after Christmas,” said Daniel.
The Almands do have plans for the future. They hope to open a local bistro where customers can enjoy smoked products during breakfast and lunch.
They hope to provide light lunches and small plates for smaller appetites with an in outside dining setting. The Almands also hope to construct a pavilion which can be rented out for mid-sized to smaller events.
“You know we run a good, honest business. We don’t want to be wealthy, but I would like to be comfortable. I want to have something you can wake up every single day and be proud of,” remarks Andrew.
