If one visited Hands Down on the weekend of June 7, it would have appeared the business was thriving. New banquettes were being built in the corner and there were plans to erect new wine storage. One week later, on June 15, the artsy bar announced it was closing.

In an Instagram statement, the team didn’t share any reasoning behind the decision, stating only that the move came “with great sadness.” The last day of business will be June 22.

The concept for Hands Down germinated in 2019 after artist Amada Claire Miller staged a pop-up and exhibit at Flight Gallery by the same name. Following a series of successful pop-ups, she partnered with Empty Stomach Group to open a permanent space at 1012 S Presa St.

Decorated with local artwork and with an amaro-heavy cocktail program, the spot immediately set itself apart from the herd. The coolers were stocked mostly with natural wine, currently in vogue in Austin but rare in San Antonio.

Though the concept was novel for San Antonio, it was firmly entrenched in the city. It stocked San Antonio chef Kayla Coronado’s Spice Girl chili crisp and hosted a variety of culinary up-and-comers in the kitchen. It provided a welcoming space for the local LGBTQIA+ community and raised funds for local reproductive justice.

It also served as a harbinger of a new Southtown entertainment district. Bar Ludavine and Near Dark quickly opened in the same building after Hands Down’s debut. Across the street, Houston sport’s bar McIntyre’s opened its first San Antonio location.

According to the statement, the concept now plans to go back to its roots. Hands Down will live on as an art-focused pop-up bar at various locales. But with the loss of one its most forward-looking concepts, San Antonio’s bar scene will seem less adventurous.