OUT WITH THE OLD
San Antonio's Pearl seeks approval for major retail expansion
Pearl is asking the city's permission to build new retail space.
San Antonio’s Pearl is seeking permission to demolish its least glamorous building to bring in much-needed retail space. On October 7, the city’s Historic and Design Review Commission (HDRC) will consider Oxbow Development Group's request to raze the Garage Building at Grayson Street and Avenue A to accommodate 10 new buildings.
The Garage Building was built in 1939 after horse-drawn beer delivery gave way to trucks, acting as a vehicle maintenance space for Pearl Brewery. According to documents submitted to the HDRC, it's been sitting mostly empty since Aveda moved out in 2013, save for a stretch from 2018 to 2021 when two nonprofits occupied it for a combined rent of less than $50.
Although Pearl is known for adaptive reuse in spaces like Hotel Emma and the future Rosso restaurant, Oxbow says the building simply can't be fixed into something else. Its loading dock faces away from the street toward Stable Hall's back-of-house, its floor sits three to four feet above the surrounding sidewalk with no room for a ramp, and the sidewalks are narrow and do not meet city code. A brewery-restaurant and an entertainment venue were floated for the space, but died once construction bids came back.
According to Oxbow, the smaller buildings will reflect the “historic development pattern found throughout San Antonio's traditional commercial corridors” by incorporating multiple storefronts and various building styles that are more pedestrian-friendly. Alamo Architects and Don B. McDonald Architects will follow Pearl’s existing vocabulary for the new structures, and Pearl says it intends to salvage what it can from the original site, including operational windows, bricks, and its stone date stamp.
"This investment reflects Pearl's ongoing commitment to the community that brings this district to life, from longtime neighbors to new retailers, by creating a more welcoming, pedestrian-first environment for guests," said Kristina Good, Oxbow's development manager, in a release. "This expansion is intentionally designed to enhance the daytime experience at Pearl, amplifying Pearl's celebrated culinary scene and unique retail offerings."
The project isn't confined to the Garage Building. Additional retail buildings are planned along Avenue A, along with smaller "jewel box" structures near Stable Hall. Pearl Parkway — closed to cars since 2020 — will also get a refresh. The additions are meant to make the district usable throughout the day instead of just nights and weekends.
"Pearl has long been described as both a magnet and a business card for San Antonio, and that has been true for our business here for the past 13 years," said Karen Lee Zachry, owner of Pearl’s The Tiny Finch. "When guests can walk to everything, it changes how they experience a place. As Pearl keeps growing, that walkability is what's going to keep bringing people back, not just to shop, but to make a day of it."
The exact retail mix at Pearl has not been announced, nor any prospective tenants, but planners say they are seeking to curate “a mix of local, regional, national and global brands.” If HDRC signs off, Pearl expects to break ground in early 2027, with the project wrapping in late 2028.
