Months after the dust settled and work crews left, St. Mary's Strip in San Antonio is throwing a grand reopening bash. In an event that stretches into the early hours, local businesses and the District 1 office are inviting the community back to their revitalized stomping grounds. According to the San Antonio Report, the celebration, dubbed "Rock the Block," officially marked the end of a construction saga that challenged the area's economic vitality.
In true celebratory fashion, Saturday's festivities started with a ribbon-cutting outside the Gallery Club. It was an upbeat affair, featuring District 1 Councilwoman Sukh Kaur, who addressed the gathering among traffic, with the block party typical road closure lacking, only the bike lane shuttered for the event. “To [Gallery Club] and all of the other business owners that are here, we know this has been such a challenging few years with COVID and construction all at the same time,” Kaur said in a statement obtained by San Antonio Report.
Despite the fanfare, the path to the reopening has not been smooth for all. As reported by San Antonio Report, many businesses have shuttered during the ordeal, casting a shadow over an otherwise festive occasion. Even as the corridor showcased new amenities, including additional parking, bright pedestrian lighting, and accessible sidewalks, remnants of struggle lingered with the sight of an empty building, the former Squeezebox club, now marred by graffiti.
The physical improvements, which the Assistant Director of Public Works Luis Maltos excited to see citizens enjoying with cyclists, pedestrian, and commuters included, are designed to boost the Strip’s appeal. Maltos told the San Antonio Report about the pedestrian-friendly upgrades that have been added, such as bus shelters and benches. Gallery Club co-owner Randi Simpson, who managed to keep her business afloat thanks, in part, to city grants, told the San Antonio Report "I know several business went out and it was not good. It was almost worse than COVID, but I don’t want negative anymore. It’s done. It’s over. We’re moving forward."
Goodwill abounded as neighbors, music lovers, and night owls were treated to an array of food and drink specials, karaoke, and other enticements proclaimed by a release, as stated in Express News. The celebration marks a turning point for 'The Original Entertainment District of San Antonio', which is looking to shed the scars of its recent past and unveil a revived face to both local and visiting patrons.
