BOOTS AND BILLS

Massive San Antonio dancehall files Chapter 11 amid construction woes

Cowboys Dancehall says the bankruptcy filing won't interfere with its concert schedule.

A San Antonio dancehall is facing hard times amid ongoing highway construction. Cowboys Far West Ltd., the company that operated Cowboys Dancehall near Windcrest, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

In the September 9 filings, the company said it has been unable to pay rent due to the TxDOT I-10 East / Loop 410 Interchange Project, a major highway overhaul that involves building stacked flyovers adjacent to and over the dancehall. Cowboys says the project, which has now spanned four years, is hurting visibility of the venue.

In a social media statement, Cowboys says it has no plans to close. It will remain open during its normal four-night schedule and has no plans to cancel concerts or special events.

“Hey y’all, we want to address recent news directly,” wrote a venue rep. “We’ve taken strategic steps to file for corporate restructuring under bankruptcy protection. This is a business move specifically designed to address ongoing landlord disputes and local highway construction concerns, protecting our staff, our operations, and our venue's future.”

Cowboys Dancehall, opened at 3030 NE Loop 410 in 2003, is one of the largest honky-tonks in San Antonio, housing two dance floors and a large, professionally lit stage. But this isn’t the first time the massive venue has had financial struggles.

According to the San Antonio Current, Cowboys Far West lost ownership in 2019 after another bankruptcy filing. The $6.5 million auction sale was won by Austin-based Heiser Development Corp., which leased the venue to SA Entertainment LLC. Cowboys Far West remained on board as the operator.

The court filings say that the company has $1.52 million in assets and $6.89 million in liabilities as of May 31. The largest debt, for $340,000, belongs to Red River Beverage Inc., a manufacturing and distribution company.

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COMING ATTRACTIONS

San Antonio's first Vietnamese coffee shop to open near Medical Center

FinFin Coffee/ Facebook

FinFin Coffee will open this fall.

San Antonio’s booming coffee culture is now enrolling in international studies. FinFin Coffee, which bills itself as the city’s first Vietnamese coffee shop, will open this fall at 8637 Fredericksburg Rd near USAA and Medical Center.

Vietnamese coffee is typically brewed using a small metal drip filter called a phin (see what they did there?). The process is similar to a French press, although the Vietnamese method relies on a slow drip instead of immersion.

The condensed milk, perhaps the most recognizable element to Westerners, comes from the French colonial period that also gave banh mi its baguettes. Fresh milk wasn’t available, so the Vietnamese people were forced to use the only shelf-stable product they had on hand.

FinFin, however, doesn’t just pour the basics. At a series of pop-ups leading up to the brick-and-mortar debut, it has served strawberry, mano, and coconut matcha lattes and topped the traditional brew with salted foam or a cloud top.

The coffee house has not yet released its opening dates, but it has been sharing videos of its construction progress. As of September 7, the shop was still putting up drywall, and rubble was scattered across the floor. Caffeine fiends can follow their Instagram account for updates.

FinFin is not the only global concept making an impact on San Antonio’s coffee scene. Turkish Delight Coffee House has been serving its national brew at 11851 Bandera Rd since 2024. And Yemeni coffee chain Haraz is already preparing to open a second location after making its San Antonio debut in March.

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