SUDDEN SHUTTERS
Pat O’Brien’s bar closes in San Antonio after 2 decades of Hurricanes
Pat O'Brien's is famous for its signature Hurricanes.
The good times are no longer rolling for San Antonio’s Pat O’Brien’s. In a poignant social media statement, owner Cory Neal shared that he was closing the long-running near-River Walk bar, an offshoot of the legendary New Orleans original.
“Pat O’s brought the spirit of New Orleans to the heart of Texas, becoming a staple of downtown nightlife with our signature hurricanes, dueling pianos, and live music on the outdoor courtyard,” wrote Neal. “More than just a bar and restaurant, Pat O’Brien’s has been a place where locals and visitors alike came to create memories, celebrate milestones, and have fun!”
Pat O’Brien’s is one of the most iconic names in New Orleans nightlife. According to the bar’s website, it officially debuted in 1933, although its namesake owner operated it as a speakeasy called Mr. O'Brien's Club Tipperary before prohibition. The password, "storm's brewin’,” was a nod to the storm-prone city.
The same gallows humor was used for naming the bar’s most iconic drink, the Hurricane. The tall, fluted glasses became coveted souvenirs for Mardis Gras vacationers and are still collected today.
Pat O’Brien’s became a franchise in 1999 under new owner Sonny Oechsner. So rooted in Louisiana lore, it never became a nationwide sensation, but it did produce an Orlando outpost, followed by the San Antonio bar in 2003.
Neal frankly admitted why he chose to shutter the bar, located steps away from The Alamo at 121 Alamo Plaza.
“[L]ike many other businesses know all too well, the challenges of the post-Covid era — combined with the ongoing construction surrounding The Alamo, fluctuating tourism and conventions, as well as the rising costs of doing business — have proven too steep to overcome. This wasn’t just a business, however, it was a family,” he wrote before thanking a long list of employees, many of whom have been with the business for at least 15 years.
The last service for Pat O’Brien’s will be on August 31. Neal is inviting the San Antonio community to come in that day for one final toast.
The Cibolo location has playful 1950's architecture.Photo courtesy of Andy's Frozen Custard.