Chef behind San Antonio's Azúca to open new concept in Hemisfair

The owner of two popular San Antonio restaurants is making a move up north — but not by far. Rene Fernandez, the chef behind Southtown’s Azúca Nuevo Latino and Hola!, is taking over Künstler Tap Haus’ former location at 510 S. Alamo St. in Hemisfair.

The concept was revealed in an August 14 public notice for a wine and beer retailer's permit under the name 510 @ Park. Hemisfair officials confirmed that Fernandez was involved in the project, but said it would open under another name.

Fernandez’s restaurants have been a fixture of the neighborhood for two decades. He first opened Azúca in 2002, following up with Hola! in 2022. The chef is best known for Nuevo Latino cuisine — a fusion of Latin American, Caribbean, and European flavors — although he briefly operated Italian restaurant Zucchero.

It’s not yet known whether “510 @ Park” will be of a similar vein. The concept does not appear to have established a web or social media presence, and Fernandez did not immediately return a request for more information.

But the restaurateur may be arriving at just the right time. Künstler closed its second location in October 2025, citing “three years of fences, tractor trailers, and dust.” Since then, South Alamo Street construction has wrapped up, and there are plenty of Hemisfair developments on the horizon.

Chief among them is the proposed Spurs arena in the former Institute of Texan Cultures location at 801 E. César E. Chávez Blvd. The project is moving ahead after San Antonio City Council rejected a call for a November citywide vote. The entertainment district has been largely welcomed by Hemisfair businesses, with some anticipating a 25- to 50-percent bump in sales, according to KSAT.