In an attempt to breathe new life into San Antonio’s La Villita, Chef Johnny Hernandez announced the launch of "Market Days," poised to catalyze the historic arts village's rebirth, the "Market Days" initiative is a bend toward cultural verve and commerce amid ongoing adversity, according to a San Antonio Report. The event series, which will include variegated offerings from Mexican artisans, is set to commence on June 15 and takes place at Maverick Plaza, now freshly renovated and also home to Hernandez's latest venture, Maverick Coffee Bar.
In light of extensive South Alamo Street construction, ongoing since late 2022, La Villita tenants have faced daunting challenges in maintaining customer flow; they are, however, finding solace in Hernandez's proactive strategy, with Hernandez himself emphasizing the point at a press conference, stating "Let's start now, let's not wait." Sarah Sifuentes of Sifuentes Metalsmith echoed these sentiments, stressing the importance of drawing patrons to support current vendors while construction, which is expected to conclude only by winter of 2025, imperils accessibility to the eastern edge of La Villita, according to San Antonio Report.
In what is characterized by Mayor Ron Nirenberg as a phase filed under 'nothing good comes easy,' Hernandez is injecting a considerable amount into the plaza's development, exactly $7.7 million as reported by San Antonio Report, aligning with the city's investment of $5.6 million derived from Inner City Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone revenue. Additionally, Bexar County has stepped up with a $250,000 grant to fortify the plaza’s amenities, tailoring them to the vision of Market Days and other cultural events.
As La Villita struggles with the double blow of the COVID-19 pandemic and relentless construction hurdles, the city mirrors the plaza's tactical maneuver by offering a raft of support measures, including a new tranche of grants ranging from $10,000 to $35,000 tailored to businesses impacted by construction, with Assistant City Manager Lori Houston revealing via text the city’s pledge to a construction rent relief package for both La Villita and Market Square, anticipation for these initiatives is shadowed by the need for immediate visitor resurgence.
With a slate of attractions in the pipeline, including Friday night markets, a German beer festival, and Day of the Dead celebrations, Hernandez's commitment to the site remains unwavering, despite a longer-than-anticipated timeline for the completion of his restaurant and the departure of potential collaborators due to the delays, with "free programming, free activities, working with the community cultural organizations" as Hernandez's remedy to reinvigorate La Villita until finalizations are fulfilled, as he told the San Antonio Report.
