COMING ATTRACTIONS

New San Antonio bar to take over former Amp Room space

A new bar is opening in the Amp Room's former home.

A new bar is taking over the former Amp Room space at 2407 N. St. Mary’s St., but the details remain a mystery. A concept called La Descarga has filed project details with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, stating it will complete renovations in April 2027.

The name may raise eyebrows among locals who frequent the West Coast. La Descarga shares a name with one of the nation’s most famous bars, a Cuban-style rum and cigar speakeasy in Hollywood known for hosting celebs like Colton Haynes and Salma Hayek.

The lower-case descarga also refers to the jam sessions popularized by Cuban musicians in the ‘50s. There’s no indication Los Angeles nightlife impresarios the Houston Brothers, who own the upper-case hot spot, are involved in the project, but a notable San Antonio name is on the listing — Cody Lockwood.

The real estate broker and owner of the Lockwood Capital Group investment firm isn’t exactly a public figure. However, he was involved with purchasing two well-known buildings housing hospitality concepts in 2023: the former home of Southtown Pizzeria at 728 S Presa St. and The Rose Bush food truck court at 2301 San Pedro Ave.

Those purchases were under Confluence Capital Group, a firm that is devoted to creating micro-districts, which it defines as “compact urban areas within a city or larger urban environment that are distinct in character, often with a unique identity, purpose, or focus.” One of its stated goals is to create “marriage markets” where singles can mingle. A few Havana nights should do the trick.

The Amp Room building has been vacant since October 2025. At the time, the venue’s owners said that it was unable to weather a rent increase.

Whatever La Descarga turns out to be, it does seem to signal the return of live music to the space. Lockwood did not immediately return a request for more information. We will update this article if he provides any new information.

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WHAT'S BREWING

What's brewing in San Antonio: Beer Week taps into October

Idle Beer Hall/ Facebook

Idle Beer Hall will be among the local breweries celebrating San Antonio Beer Week.

It’s the most chuggable time of the year as Alamo City brewers get ready for the San Antonio Beer Week marathon of breakfasts, spooky screenings, and a grand tasting at Hemisfair. Elsewhere, local homebrewers are perfecting their pale ales for Verano Braü as a Fort Worth brewery prepares to bring Cowtown to the Rim. Yeehaw! It’s time to rope in October’s beer news.

Breaking down Beer Week
We don’t know if we have Ninkasi, Silenus, or Mbaba Mwana Waresa to thank, but the beer gods are smiling on this year’s San Antonio Beer Week (SABW). With (slightly) cooler days forecasted October 10-18, no one will have to suffer heat stroke to sip a barrel-aged stout.

The frothy celebration of craft brewing came together in 2011, after local beer writer Travis E. Poling proposed the idea in a San Antonio Current column. Now, area brewers have made it one of the city’s most anticipated excuses to pop open a cold one.

While imbibers can chart their own course with the annual passport program, they won’t want to miss the parties. Among this year’s festivities are a beer breakfast at Dos Sirenos, an anniversary party at The Friendly Spot, a spooky screening at Wild Barley, a tap takeover at Roundabout, and a toast to Idle Beer Hall.

It all comes to a crescendo at Hemisfair’s Civic Park for the annual San Antonio Beer Festival, where brewers from across the nation serve their best. Groggy head or not, the real ones will want to stick around the next day for the annual Brewers Olympics.

More information on all of the events can be found online.

Kunstler Brewing Verano Braü competitors will show off their American pale ales at Künstler Brewing.Künstler Brewing/ Facebook

Hopping into the ring
While the pros show off for Beer Week, homebrewers will have their chance to flaunt their own American pale ales during the sixth annual Verano Braü.

Beer nonprofit San Antonio Cerveceros is taking 12 competition entries through October 23, and the winner will be announced October 26 at Künstler Brewing. The final boss will be sold at the Southtown brewery.

ICYMI
San Antonio-based fuel company VP Racing is adding some octane to Alamo Distilling Co. The company has purchased the struggling distillery at 2030 E. Houston St. to produce its newly launched Grand Tour Collection of roadtrip-inspired whiskies.

Meanwhile, buzzy Fort Worth brewery Second Rodeo is eyeing its first San Antonio location. According to a property flyer, the beer garden will take over the former home of The Rustic at 17619 La Cantera Pkwy in the Rim.

Lastly, City Brew Tours has rolled out new guided excursions through San Antonio breweries. Local franchise owner Michael Lerch says he doesn't just want guests to taste Alamo City beers, but also meet the people responsible for their favorite ales and IPAs.

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