Rio Concho Catering to Open Concho Pearl Ice House

With two young children and one on the way Ashley Young-Turner and her husband decided San Angelo would be the best place to raise their children.

Young-Turner’s parents had also moved back to their hometown of San Angelo. Together, looking toward their future, the family opened a catering business. 

After two years of running Rio Concho Catering, Ashley, along with her husband and parents, are working on a new project.

“There are spots for families, but their food isn’t always the best, and there are places with good food, but they aren’t always welcoming to families,” Young-Turner said. “We want to offer a place that has great food and is also family-friendly.”

The family, who have been working in the food industry for numerous years, has been remodeling the property on Chadbourne Street that previously operated as Roxy’s Sports Bar.

The new restaurant, The Concho Pearl Ice House, will be opening in early January.

Young-Turner said, “We were hoping to have it open before Christmas, but the weather kind of knocked us back a little bit.”

She said in all they have expanded the kitchen area, redone the plumbing and rerouted the electric system. Once warm weather hits, the restaurant will have another grand opening for the patio area.

“We are trying to bring the Hill Country patio atmosphere to San Angelo,” Young-Turner said.

The patio will include a kids’ play-scape along with a stage that will offer another venue for casual live music.

“We are doing gourmet burgers and gourmet salads. We have also a collection of barbecue and various Texas items on the menu,” Young-Turner said.

One of The Concho Pearl Ice House’s signature appetizers is going to be a Texas antipasti with Texas cheeses, beef jerky and homemade pickles.

“We are doing all our own pickling, our own meat grounding, everything will be from scratch,” she said.

Young-Turner noted that they will also offer an extensive craft beer list along with unique wines that are not served elsewhere in San Angelo.

“We wanted to give San Angelo a restaurant that we wanted to eat at. We wanted great food and great drinks in a friendly environment, somewhere you can come and have an adult evening and have a your kids with you too,” Young-Turner said.

On the origin of the name Young-Turner said, “The Concho pearls are San Angelo icons—it is part of the culture here.”

However, for Young-Turner and her family the name is even more significant. Young-Turner’s grandmother had a ring given to her by her husband. It was originally set with a salt water pearl, but after it was lost was replaced with Concho pearl.

Young-Turner said, “As a kid it was my favorite thing. When she passed away it was passed on to my family. It was something I wore all the time and it made me think of her and San Angelo.”

She said they chose the name because of its meaning to both San Angelo and their family.

The wood used on the walls and tabletops at the restaurant are from Young-Turner’s grandmother’s childhood home in Paint Rock.

“It’s not just random, it’s from my grandmother’s house,” she said.

Young-Turner said the restaurant is “Something we felt had to be here and had to start here. It is about San Angelo. It is relevant to the town and to our family history”

She said, “This is something we have built and are making for San Angelo.”

To stay updated on news regarding The Concho Pearl Ice House visit www.facebook.com/TheConchoPearl, or drive by the location, under construction, at 1605 S.Chadbourne, San Angelo, Texas 76903.