Remembering the man who put San Antonio dining on the map

The restaurant icon passed away this week at 93

SAN ANTONIO – Jimmy Hasslocher beams with pride as he talks about his father and his humble beginnings.

“That's how it started with bicycles and watermelon,” he recalled.

It was only up from there; Jim Hasslocher opened Frontier Burger in 1947. The chain quickly grew from San Antonio to Houston. Six decades later, Texas staple Jim’s coffee shops dot the Lone Star State.

For over three decades, Hasslocher was also in charge of dining at the Hemisphere Tower. “He was deeply involved in that running food operations for the World's Fair, 1973 he opened The Magic Time Machine," Jimmy said.

But well into his 90s he did not slow down. His latest project is set to open in just a few months. The famed Frontier Burger is making a comeback. The burger will be made just like it was in 1947.

His son said he loved what he did, “He woke up every morning and drove three blocks to his office.  He was driving on Monday. It's what got him to 93."

Funeral services for Jim Hasslocher will Nov. 22, 2015 at Porter Loring in San Antonio.


About the Authors:

Ursula Pari has been a staple of television news in Texas at KSAT 12 News since 1996 and a veteran of broadcast journalism for more than 30 years.