Broadway got a jolt at noon on Tuesday when Merci Jones, the long-awaited cocktail bar from Empty Stomach Group, finally swung open its corner doors at Broadway and Jones Avenue with a full-on Fat Tuesday block party in downtown San Antonio. The newcomer greeted early guests with live music, a run of local food pop-ups and a menu built around classic, affordable cocktails plus a deliberately built-out nonalcoholic program for the sober-curious, as reported by MySA.
According to MySA, the debut doubled as an all-day street hang featuring pop-ups from Cullum's Attaboy, Beacon Hill Market & Deli, Little Death, Petit Coquin and Reese Bros Barbecue. General manager Steven Santillan confirmed the opening to the outlet and said the project had been at least two years in the making.
"We dedicated significant time and effort to ensuring our non-alcoholic program was never an afterthought, offering a wide range of options including zero-proof cocktails, beer and wine," Santillan wrote in an email to MySA. He added that the team set out to build "the kind of neighborhood bar that we would personally love and enjoy" and that the cocktail program is intended to be approachable and affordable. As part of that plan, the bar is pouring seven cocktails priced at $7 until 7 p.m. daily.
What They Are Pouring
CultureMap San Antonio describes a tight cocktail list that blends tiki staples and classics with a few originals, plus a zero-proof lineup that includes a cold-brew martini and several nonalcoholic beers and wines. The outlet reports Merci Jones is open daily from noon, with those $7 cocktails on offer during happy hour until 7 p.m. before prices rise during peak evening hours.
From Pop-Up To Permanent
The concept first surfaced as a 2024 summer residency called Mercy, where $7 cocktails quickly became a calling card, according to Axios San Antonio. San Antonio Current later tagged Merci Jones as one of the city's most anticipated openings and noted 1101 Broadway as its permanent home.
With a mix of cheap cocktail deals, a nonalcoholic program treated as a real priority and a friendly, unfussy design, Merci Jones slots into an already busy stretch of Broadway that includes neighbors Hot Joy and NOLA Brunch & Beignets. CultureMap San Antonio reports the team kept the official debut low-key, simply unlocking the doors on Tuesday and letting the neighborhood wander in to see what all the waiting was about.
