LOCAL LOVE

New San Antonio pass rewards locals for shopping at legacy businesses

Casa Rio is one of the businesses participating in the Buy Local Legacy Pass.

We’ve all made sad comments when a San Antonio business closure pops up on our feeds; now the city wants citizens to show local love IRL. The Economic Development Department has launched a new Buy Local Legacy Pass designed to keep dollars in the hands of our neighbors.

The pass is the second to come out of the city's Buy Local program. This time, San Antonio officials partnered with the Office of Historic Preservation's Legacy Business Program to build a promotion aimed at the businesses that have long defined civic life.

Participating in the program does not require a visit to the App Store or Google Play (and certainly no pesky in-app purchases). Participants sign up online, download via text and email, then save to any smartphone's home screen. Voilà.

From there, passholders check in via GPS at participating businesses through September 7. Play a round of mini-golf at Cool Crest; dig into some fajitas at Casa Rio; buy some papel picado at Amol’s. After locals visit five locations, they can claim a prize pack.

To qualify as a legacy business, each establishment has to have operated in San Antonio for at least 20 years and “contribute to the history, culture, and authentic identity of San Antonio.” But the city isn’t just wallowing in nostalgia. It says shifting even 10 percent of local spending boosts the local economy.

Small businesses also generate the bulk of new jobs, and employees donate nearly 2.5 times more to area nonprofits. And $68 of every $100 spent locally cycles back to the community.

Those who live in the far-flung edges of the city should be warned that the bulk of the participants are in the city core. But during most of the promotion’s run, there’s an extra incentive for making a drive. Downtown Thursdays offers free parking in city-owned lots each week through August 27.

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FITNESS NEWS

Buzzy Pilates chain to make San Antonio debut with 3 new studios

BODYBARPilates.com

BODYBAR Pilates is opening three San Antonio studios.

San Antonio might be one of America’s least fit cities, but a new wave of studios may help us rise through the ranks. BODYBAR Pilates will make its Alamo City debut with three area locations in Alamo Heights, La Cantera, and Stone Oak.

The Fort Worth-based franchise focuses on reformer Pilates. Those of us who huff and puff climbing steps might not be familiar with the name, but are no doubt familiar with the machine — a sliding sled contraption with various springs, pulleys, and ropes. Fans value the method for improving posture and building full-body strength.

The studios will also use EXO Chairs, stool-sized apparatuses based on the original ‘20s Wunda Chair invented by Joseph Pilates. According to a release, classes will be available for all fitness levels

.Laurie and Eric Falcon, a nurse practitioner and retired Department of Defense firefighter, will operate the local franchises. The pair hope to eventually draft their son and daughter into the business as the studios grow.

Although San Antonio still struggles with an obesity epidemic, a growing number of fitness companies are banking on the city for growth. Dallas-based EōS Fitness made its local debut in June, and boutique studios like King William’s Lagree Onda are increasingly popping up to serve neighborhood exercise needs.

The new options may be contributing to more active lifestyles. The American College of Sports Medicine’s recent American Fitness Index ranked San Antonio 84th out of 100 U.S. cities. That may not seem like a flex, but last year we were ranked No. 90 — indicating the city has made strides in encouraging an overall culture of health.

BODYBAR has not announced the addresses of its San Antonio outposts but says the city may feel the burn as early as spring 2027. And it has faith locals will embrace the concept despite the statistics.

"San Antonio is one of the fastest-growing metro regions in Texas, and it's an area we've always wanted to have a presence in," said Matt McCollum, CEO of BODYBAR, in a release. "The communities they'll be opening in are known for their strong neighborhoods, thriving business districts, and residents who value health, wellness, and an active lifestyle."

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