Family matters

Family behind San Antonio's iconic Mi Tierra opens first restaurant on Northwest Side

Mi Familia will serve a variety of Tex-Mex specialties.

Courtesy photo

For 78 years, La Familia Cortez Restaurants has been synonymous with downtown San Antonio dining. Now, the long-running hospitality group is introducing itself to a brand-new neighborhood.

In a November 4 release, La Familia Cortez announced its first full-service venture outside of Market Square. Mi Familia de Mi Tierra will open November 19 at 18403 W. I-10 inside The Rim.

The concept will be similar to the company’s other eateries like La Margarita and Mi Tierra. Tex-Mex favorites like enchiladas and tacos will be featured alongside new chef-inspired fare.

The restaurant will also feature a panadería serving a variety of pan dulce and Mexican candy along with coffee. Mariachi Bar, Mi Tierra’s popular lobby bar, will also make the ride to the Northwest Side with a full menu of beer, craft cocktails, and margaritas.

As always, the decor will reflect La Familia Cortez traditions. Altars, twinkle lights, and family photos will give a homey ambiance while contemporary art from San Antonio and Mexico artists will provide vibrant color.

In addition, the group is working with local painter Roberto Ytuarte to create a custom mural that will take more than a year to complete. Culling images from San Antonio’s Zona Cultural, the work will trace the family's roots. Other future cultural endeavors will include events and workshops that promote Latinx heritage.

That programming is a tribute to founders Pedro and Cruz Cortez’s vision of bringing the entire San Antonio community to the table, made even more poignant by Cruz’s passing in May. The “Mi Familia” in the name of the restaurant reflects the family spirit behind the iconic operation.

“For the past 78 years, the Cortez Family has made downtown San Antonio our home and have dedicated ourselves to the preservation and promotion of our cultura,” La Familia Cortez COO Pete Cortez says in the release. “We are blessed to have the opportunity to expand our founders’ legacy and welcome new familia’s into our home to share our comida and cultura while creating new memories.”

openings

BREW BLUES

Acclaimed brewery taps out of San Antonio after 11 years

Busted Sandal Brewing Company/Facebook

Busted Sandal is closing all three of its locations.

Nationwide, the gusty tradewinds of the craft brewing industry have capsized several industry leaders. In San Antonio, it has been a hurricane. Less than a month after revered beermaker Weathered Souls shuttered, Busted Sandal Brewing has written its own epitaph. The closure affects all three locations.

The team shared the news in an October 2 social media post. Although the statement didn’t dig deeply into the reasoning, it cited economic pressures, including its customers' ability to pay for “housing, food, and day-to-day life.”

“We do not close Busted Sandal with immense regret, but rather with a great sense of pride, holding our heads high knowing we made great beer and created a fun place for our Sandal family,” wrote a representative.

Busted Sandal opened its first outpost in San Antonio in 2013, largely committed to lighter beer styles like Mexican lagers and hefeweizens. In early 2020, the company expanded to a beer garden in Helotes. Its newest location in Kerrville has only been open since July 2023.

The economy had undoubtedly been unfriendly to breweries. According to a 2023 study by the national trade group Brewer’s Association, the industry has been burdened by rising costs in almost every production area. At the same time, climate change has reduced crop yields, and changes in drinking preferences have damaged sales.

The market forces are definitely felt in the Alamo City area. In addition to Weathered Souls’ passing, Barrelman Brewing Co., Boerne Brewery, Kinematic Brewing Co., and Second Pitch Beer Co. have all shuttered in recent months. Alamo Beer owner Eugene Simor has placed his East Side property for sale, and Black Laboratory has traded beer for seltzers.

The last day of business for Busted Sandal’s San Antonio location will be October 12, followed by November 3 and 10 for Helotes and Kerrville, respectively.

closings craft beer beer

Family matters

Family behind San Antonio's iconic Mi Tierra opens first restaurant on Northwest Side

BREW BLUES

Acclaimed brewery taps out of San Antonio after 11 years

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