After a decade at the Rim, San Antonio’s The General Public and Bowl & Barrel have unceremoniously closed. In identical statements — made a day after The General Public was hawking hushpuppies — the restaurant and bowling alley each announced they had chosen not to renew their neighboring leases at 17619 La Cantera Pkwy.
“Thank you, San Antonio,” a company rep wrote in the twin social media statements, posted Monday, August 11. “After many wonderful years of serving the San Antonio community, our journey at this location has come to an end.”
Dallas-based restaurant group FreeRange Concepts opened Bowl & Barrel in June 2015. The entertainment concept combined a 15-lane bowling alley with a full restaurant serving Texas craft beer and elevated small bites.
The game is over at Bowl & Barrell. Bowl & Barrel - The Rim Facebook
A month later, the company followed up with the debut of The General Public. The contemporary tavern focused on higher-end American pub grub like smash burgers, chicken tenders, and fish & chips.
The closures appear to have been immediate. Both business phone numbers have been disconnected, and menus have been scrubbed from the concept’s main webpages. It’s not clear what factors led to the company making the decision.
This isn’t the first time FreeRange has decided to shutter a San Antonio concept with no warning. In May 2024, the group quietly closed live music venue The Rustic. Although a note taped to the door explained that ongoing freeway construction was hurting business, no official statement was issued.
With the dual closures of The General Public and Bowl & Barrel, FreeRange Concepts is no longer operating in San Antonio. The group still runs several restaurants in Dallas and Houston.
Andrew Ho holds a copy of the proof.Curry Boys BBQ/ Instagram