JANUARY 30, 2025 — John Vale ’13 graduated from the UTSA College of Sciences with a bachelor’s degree in biology. He has since built a career in entrepreneurship as a restaurateur in San Antonio. Now the owner and founder of both Alamo Biscuit Company & Panaderia and Texas Associates Insurance, Vale credits much of his professional growth to the lessons and opportunities he gained at UTSA.
When Vale entered college, he initially planned to follow in his father’s footsteps as a pharmacist. However, his experiences at UTSA opened doors to new opportunities that shifted his aspirations. During his studies, Vale joined the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity, where he served as social chair. In this role, he gained experience in event planning, relationship building and financial management, sparking his initial interest in entrepreneurship.
“Being the social chair taught me how to lead, network and handle responsibilities,” Vale said. “My job was to plan parties and raise money for our events. The parties ended up being really successful, and I realized, ‘Hey, I can do this.’ That’s when I started thinking about business ideas and eventually got into club promoting and event planning.”
After organizing highly successful fraternity events, local club owners took notice and began inviting Vale to promote their venues. Vale seized this opportunity. He partnered with other fraternity leaders to form Paper Napkin Productions, a company that brought high-profile artists to San Antonio. These ventures prospered financially, and Vale used the income to launch his first bar, The View Tequila Bar, in his junior year at UTSA. After taking a hiatus from his education to own and operate the bar for several years, he returned to UTSA to complete his degree in 2012.
“As we grow, I want to preserve that sense of community and celebrate what makes San Antonio so special.”
Following Vale’s UTSA graduation, he moved into the restaurant and insurance industries. In 2015, he became a franchisee for BurgerFi, operating the franchise until 2019. During this time, Vale also earned his property and casualty insurance license as part of his goal to diversify his portfolio. The following year, he founded Texas Associates Insurance, eventually growing the business into four offices across the region.
These experiences inspired him to create his own restaurant concept, and in 2019, he launched Alamo Biscuit Co. with a vision to blend comfort food with San Antonio’s culinary traditions. In addition to the restaurant’s variety of menu options, Vale wanted to emphasize quality and freshness, with all baked goods and dishes made in-house daily.
The restaurant group has grown steadily with a new location opening at the River Walk in March 2025. Vale also plans to open a fourth location later this year and is considering future expansion through franchising.
“When I started Alamo Biscuit Company, I wanted to create something San Antonio could call its own. The city has such a rich cultural and culinary history, and I felt there was a need for a concept that brought people together over familiar, comforting food but with a creative twist,” Vale said. “My vision has always been about more than just a restaurant. It’s about creating an experience where everyone feels welcome and connected. As we grow, I want to preserve that sense of community and celebrate what makes San Antonio so special.”
Alongside his business pursuits, Vale is dedicated to community service, a commitment that is woven into Alamo Biscuit Co.’s mission. Through the Alamo Biscuit Community Outreach initiative, the restaurant provides meals for 150 individuals who are unhoused. Through his community connections, Vale also ensures haircuts, essential clothing item distributions, and medical checkups are available. In addition to this initiative, Vale gives back to UTSA by sponsoring the Alumni Association’s Early Bird Breakfasts. Alamo Biscuit Co. donates breakfast food completely free of charge to support students as they begin each new semester.
“We get to give back in life, and that’s something I love to do,” Vale expressed. “It is important to use what we’ve built to help others, and I know it is part of my purpose.”
While he did not pursue a career in biology, Vale is grateful for the important role UTSA played in his success. He sees his years attending the university as pivotal in shaping his mindset and approach to challenges. Vale also credits the university with giving him the confidence to pursue his goals and the resilience to navigate obstacles throughout his career.
“If I hadn’t gone to UTSA, I would not be here right now. There certainly wouldn’t be an Alamo Biscuit Company,” Vale said. “UTSA provided the opportunities that inspired me to take initiative and step outside my comfort zone. It also taught me the importance of hard work and dedication. All the lessons I learned as a student continue to guide me today in every aspect of my career.”
