reopening alert

Long-running San Antonio taco joint reopens after mysterious pause

Rolando's Super Tacos No. 2 is back in business.

Amid a wave of South Side shutters, one recently closed taquería has made a comeback. San Antonio’s Rolando’s Super Tacos No. 2 is now griddling its massive tortillas six days a week at 93 Shasta Ave.

The restaurant announced the reopening in a matter-of-fact Facebook post listing the opening hours. The business did not explain why it took a break, which has been the subject of much speculation since July.

Over the summer, Rolando’s taped a sign on its window stating it would “be back soon.” Although it did not provide any further information, many guessed that the business was moving since the property had been listed for sale since fall 2025.

By August 2026, it appeared Rolando’s was gone for good. The taquería’s Google Business profile flipped from “temporarily closed” to “permanently closed.” And Rolando’s stopped posting on social media. It’s not clear whether the business is still operating under the same owner, but the real estate listing is no longer active.

Rolando’s has been a South Side staple for more than three decades. In the 90s, Mari Mendez inherited the family business from her father, Rolando Rodarte, who founded the original Rolando’s in 1979. The plate-sized tortillas were an invention of her mother, Guillmernia Rodarte.

Whatever the reason for the hiatus, Rolando’s No. 2 is back in action as many other longtime South Side businesses are falling off the map. In October alone, the 51-year-old Curve Restaurant and the Hungry Farmer Steakhouse both closed.

According to its Facebook post, Rolando’s is now open every day but Wednesdays, starting at 7 am. The restaurant closes at 1:30 pm on weekdays and 2 pm on weekends.

tacos south side closings tex-mex openings

SUDDEN SHUTTERS

Cowboys Dancehall two-steps out of San Antonio after 23 years

Cowboys Dancehall/ Facebook

Cowboys Dancehall has ended its 23-year run.

A month after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, Cowboys Dancehall is throwing in the towel. The long-running honky-tonk at 3030 NE Loop 410 near Windcrest said it could not overcome business challenges, including ongoing construction around the venue.

“After more than two decades of music, dancing, and unforgettable memories, it is with heavy hearts that we announce Cowboys Dancehall San Antonio has closed its doors," the business wrote in a social media statement. “We have made extensive efforts to find a solution that would allow us to continue operating at our longtime home. Unfortunately, despite those efforts, the challenges facing our business have left us without a viable path forward under the present circumstances.”

In September 9 filings, operator Cowboys Far West Ltd. 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 said the project, which has now spanned four years, is hurting visibility of the venue, a charge it repeated in its goodbye.

At the time, Cowboys said that it had no plans to close and continued its normal four-night schedule. The bankruptcy filing was intended as a “strategic step” to address the landlord dispute and protect its staff.

Cowboys Dancehall, opened in 2003, was one of the largest honky-tonks in San Antonio, housing two dance floors and a large, professionally lit stage. But in recent years, 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.

Despite not having the “ending [they] wanted, Cowboys did not rule out an eventual return to San Antonio nightlife.

“While our doors are closed, we aren't ruling out the possibility of another chapter,” wrote the venue. “We remain hopeful that a change in circumstances could one day create an opportunity for Cowboys to return. However, we want to be transparent: there are currently no plans to reopen and no guarantees of what the future may hold.”

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