San Antonio couple fights to open new bistro after alleged theft

A San Antonio couple is fighting to keep their dreams alive after a contractor allegedly swindled thousands. Sharrah and John Lopez, the husband-and-wife behind the upcoming Ginger’s Bistro, say they are hoping for a last-minute Hail Mary to open their long-delayed new restaurant at 4250 TPC Pkwy.

Sharrah says the couple noticed something was off when the contractor told them they received a fine from the fire marshal, purportedly for a small party the pair threw in the space. Later, the official told them that he hadn’t spoken to the contractor in months.

She also claims she gave the builder money for a vent hood and an HVAC unit, equipment that has yet to arrive on site. In all, Sharrah says she and her husband were snookered for around $200,000.

Now, the Lopezes are struggling to raise funds to complete the build-out while still paying rent on the unfinished space. Sharrah says it has been difficult to get business loans without a proof of concept.

“We’re not millionaires,” an emotional Sharrah said. “This was going to be our biggest leap of faith, and we both feel like failures.”

The Lopezes, who live nearby in Cibolo Canyons, first imagined the restaurant as a “cozy space to give neighborhood people a place to relax.” John named it Ginger’s after his penchant for red heads, most notably his wife.

Sharrah, who grew up near the Louisiana border, is taking care of the cuisine, cooking crawfish etouffée, gumbo, and other Cajun dishes she learned in her youth. She built the menu around comfort fare, adding hamburgers, meatloaf, and other Southern classics.

The couple also intends the place to be for socializing. Now empty nesters, the couple spends a lot of time sitting at the bars of nearby restaurants. They crafted a beverage program around high-end Bourbons and their favorite wines.

Sharrah says neither she nor her husband has given up on their passion project. They have both endured hardships — especially John, a 22-year Army disabled combat vet.

A GoFundMe campaign created by her daughter has raised almost $4,000 to help the Lopezes get to the finish line, but Sharrah says they need help making this month’s rent. She has had recent conversations with the owners of fellow TPC Plaza business Pan Dulce that she hopes will bear fruit.

“We’re both fighters, and we will exhaust every last avenue,” says Sharrah. “We just need a little more time to get through.”