These days, 24-hour diners are hard to come by in San Antonio, especially ones that aren’t a part of a larger chain, like Denny’s or IHOP. But before the COVID-19 pandemic, Lulu’s Bakery & Cafe was not only open around the clock, but it was also serving up some hefty Texas-sized foods.
Unfortunately, like so many local businesses, Lulu’s shuttered as a result of the pandemic. But in its heyday, customers flocked to the Main Avenue business for its giant cinnamon rolls and its huge chicken-fried steaks.
When you mention Lulu’s today, people in the know are likely to bring up the diner’s coveted cinnamon rolls, which weighed in at around 3 pounds. The restaurant opened in the 1990s, presumably in 1995, as Lulu’s celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2015. Through the years, Lulu’s became a popular stop for students at the nearby San Antonio College and a place to get a hot meal after hitting the club.
Naturally, its enormous cinnamon rolls drew the attention of competitive eaters and national news outlets, like Buzzfeed, which led more out-of-towners to stop at Lulu’s when visiting San Antonio. Even the Food Network’s show, Man v. Food, had an episode about conquering the 3-pound sweet treat.
Lulu’s Bakery & Cafe did not survive its extended closure, which kicked off in 2020 at the start of the pandemic. Throughout the mandatory shutdowns and subsequent safety protocols, the business provided frequent updates on its Facebook page. At a certain point, Lulu’s even hinted at its eventual return after the world opened back up. However, the restaurant’s last post was on November 25, 2020, and at that point, it seemed as though the diner’s days were over.
The official closure of Lulu’s was confirmed in April 2021, when the business participated in an auction to liquidate its furnishings, decor and equipment. After that, no signs of life remained for the bakery and cafe.
A part of Lulu’s Bakery was revived by another local restaurant, Green Vegetarian Cuisine, which was directly connected to the diner by way of blood. Lulu’s founder, Lulu Singleton, is the mother of chef Mike Behrend, who ran Green for almost 20 years. Behrend held on to Lulu’s cinnamon roll recipe and began using it to produce the giant desserts at his restaurant in 2022.
After its own struggles to stay open, Green eventually closed on April 17, 2026, leaving a 3-pound cinnamon roll-shaped hole in all of our hearts. While Lulu’s Bakery & Cafe is no more, the building it once occupied still stands, and the memories of its larger-than-life menu will remain for years to come.