End of an era

San Antonio Tex-Mex eatery shutters after 50 years in Southtown

After 50 years in business, El Mirador is closing to make way for a new concept.

First, the bad news. El Mirador, a Southtown staple for 50 years, is closing. According to a release, architect and developer Chris Hill has sold the property at 722 S. Saint Mary’s St. to restaurateur Lisa Wong, who will be developing a new concept on the property.

The shutter marks the end of an era in Alamo City’s dining scene. Julian and Maria Treviño first debuted the eatery in 1960 with a menu inspired by family recipes. It quickly became one of the most popular Tex-Mex eateries in town, drawing a crowd that included everything from politicians to blue collar workers.

Hill has been running the historic restaurant since 2014, giving both the decor and the menu a complete makeover in 2016. It was a risky move. Some online reviewers welcomed the changes, especially the switch to handmade tortillas. Yet others decried the aesthetic, labeling it with the ultimate San Antonio insult: “Austin hipster.”

Although Wong owns similar contemporary Mexican restaurants Acenar and Rosario’s Mexican Cafe y Cantina, she has no plans to carry on the El Mirador name, and Hill will not be taking the concept to a new location.

Now, the good news. San Antonians can look forward to three new eateries. Although the release did not reveal Wong’s future plans, she did provide a statement to the San Antonio Express-News.

"I appreciate the legacy left behind by the Treviño family, the loyal fanbase, and I look forward to creating a space that the community will equally support in the years to come," she told the paper.

Meanwhile, Hill is busy working on his next chapter. Along with Spot On Hospitality, he is working on a tiki spot to be located downtown.

He is also involved in the upcoming Canopy by Hilton, a hotel being built next door to his River Walk bars, The Esquire Tavern and Downstairs at the Esquire. That project will include a restaurant with a menu from another San Antonio food scene heavy hitter, Andrew Weissman.

But if all that change is hard to handle, there is one last chance to relive El Mirador memories. On November 18, the restaurant will be offering a buffet feast for $9.95 or free with the purchase of an alcoholic beverage or cocktail. And to give back to the community that has supported it for half a century, the eatery will be donating all leftover food to the San Antonio Food Bank.

closings 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

End of an era

San Antonio Tex-Mex eatery shutters after 50 years in Southtown

BREW BLUES

Acclaimed brewery taps out of San Antonio after 11 years

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