SAN ANTONIO — Pat O’Brien’s will close its San Antonio location on August 31, citing inflation, the pandemic, and the ongoing Alamo redevelopment project as reasons for the decision.
The closure marks the end of the restaurant’s run of serving its signature Hurricane cocktail downtown.
Carley Eddleman, general manager of the Buckhorn Saloon and Museum, expressed her disappointment over the closure. “I am very sad to see Pat O’Brien’s pulling, you know, pulling out of San Antonio,” she said.
Eddleman noted that construction related to the Alamo plan has significantly impacted her business and others in the area.
“When this initially started, we started to see about a 10% to 15% drop in our business, and we’re approximately now at a 25% to 30% drop,” she said.
The biggest impact has been on walk-up customers, particularly tourists heading to the Alamo, who struggle to find access to East Houston Street businesses due to construction fencing. Eddleman suggested that more visible wayfinding could alleviate the issue. “Maybe the city lets us put signage in other areas that are not on our property or even see-through fencing materials so that people can see that there is pass-through,” she said.
Despite the challenges, Eddleman stated that Buckhorn is not considering closure and is looking forward to the completion of the project.
“We are looking at some difficult times right now,” she said.
Officials with the Alamo said they maintain weekly contact with nearby businesses, have collaborated on signage, and partnered with Visit San Antonio to create maps to help visitors navigate the area and find local shops and restaurants. The Alamo Plan is expected to be completed in 2027.