San Antonio’s Saddest Summer of Restaurant and Bar Closures

San Antonio’s Saddest Summer of Restaurant and Bar Closures

The summer breaks have left a bitter taste for the restaurant and bar industry in San Antonio, witnessing some major shutters. Economic uncertainties, the lingering effects of last year’s Covid-19 shutdowns, and a shift in customer habits have forced a plethora of local, popular establishments to close their doors, leaving the city sore with nostalgia.

Highlights of the Summer’s Closures

In a heavy-hearted month of July, the Acadiana Cafe ended its 38-year reign when owner Dave Saylor sold the property and recipes to the Hacienda Vallarta Restaurant Group.

The sibling units, Allora and Arrosta, called it quits on August 31 and June 29, respectively, after an unsettling year marked by the departure of founding chef Robbie Nowlin and various concept changes.

After a brief four-month run, Barbarella, the San Antonio branch of a popular Austin nightclub, turned off its lights permanently in early September. The closure made way for a forthcoming darkwave concept, The Factory.

Blue Box, the craft cocktail pioneer at the Pearl since 2012, drowned its spirits and closed its doors in late July, while the Pearl’s trendsetting Peruvian-Asian restaurant, Botika, folded on August 4th.

Closure news also struck the Korean favorite, Cypress Cafe, which reinvented itself as a ghost kitchen in the Lombrano Food Hall, following its eviction from H-E-B-owned premises. The list of closures has seen additions during the summer, such as Diez Flores, Godai Sushi Bar & Japanese Restaurant, Greenhouse, Hands Down, Krazy Katsu, Rooster Crow Bakery, The Rustic, and Saucy Birds.

San Antonio Shows Resilience Despite Closures

San Antonio’s food and beverage scene has shown resilience despite the downturn. New opportunities have arisen for some, with Geronimo Lopez, the former chef-owner of Botika, being named the new executive chef at Hotel Emma. Similarly, Jenn Reisman, the renowned pastry chef of the now-closed Rooster Crow Bakery, has announced a new position leading Max & Louie’s New York Diner’s upcoming bakery operations.

In a bid to support the hurting industry, a group of business heavyweights have founded the Business Community PAC, reinforcing the message that there’s never been a better time to prop up our beloved local businesses sector.

While goodbyes are never easy, the closures offer a stark reminder of the ruthless landscape of the restaurant and bar industry. San Antonio’s dining scene proves time and again that similarly to its rich mix of cultures, the fabric of its hospitality industry is much the same – teeming with rebirth and resilience, always buzzing with the promise of something new.

In Nostalgic Grief, San Antonio Looks forward