{"id":690417,"date":"2026-03-29T15:34:22","date_gmt":"2026-03-29T15:34:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/690417\/"},"modified":"2026-03-29T15:34:22","modified_gmt":"2026-03-29T15:34:22","slug":"heres-why-film-and-tv-fans-are-flocking-to-an-old-san-antonio-mall","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/690417\/","title":{"rendered":"Here’s why film and TV fans are flocking to an old San Antonio mall"},"content":{"rendered":"

Inside of a 1960s era San Antonio shopping mall, fans line up to meet movie stars.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Scott Patterson and Sean Gunn, who played main characters in the hit television show \u201cGilmore Girls,\u201d welcomed San Antonio residents for autographs, photos and meet and greets. They\u2019ve acted in major franchises like \u201cSaw\u201d and Disney\u2019s \u201cGuardians of the Galaxy,\u201d respectively, but on Feb. 14 and 15, they were at Wonderland of the Americas in Balcones Heights.<\/p>\n

The event was one of dozens put on by Kings of Horror, a group that has evolved from a collection of volunteers that wanted to bring movie fans together to a full-blown business facilitating free events and shows for thousands of San Antonians.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The weekend-long events include actors, dozens of vendors and community members who are excited to take home a piece of their favorite movie or television series, transforming the mall into a hybrid between a massive pop-up market and comic-con.<\/p>\n

The day after Valentine\u2019s Day, children wandered past stalls and tables crammed full of art and souvenirs. Families pushed strollers through crowded halls and waited for pizza and burger orders. Lines zigzagged around corners and through food courts.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"Credit: Jasper Kenzo Sundeen \/ San Antonio Report<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m a teacher. I work hard. But on the weekends, I can count on something being here,\u201d said Nancy Bicacio, who was at Wonderland of the Americas to peruse the market.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s something to do practically every weekend,\u201d said John Hinojosa, a regular at the mall\u2019s events.<\/p>\n

In January, \u201cStranger Things\u201d stunt doubles and cast members drew thousands of attendees interested in the hit Netflix show, which ended just weeks before.<\/p>\n

Gunn and Patterson aren\u2019t the only faces from the silver screen to appear at the mall. A dual event this weekend features actor Jason Lee and other stars from the show \u201cMy Name is Earl,\u201d as well as cast members from the movie \u201cFive Nights at Freddy\u2019s 2,\u201d<\/a> appearing at the mall. <\/p>\n

Actors from AMC\u2019s \u201cThe Walking Dead,\u201d including Marvel movie star Michael Rooker, are scheduled to visit this July.<\/p>\n

Kings of Horror is giving movie and television fans a place to be passionate.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re here for everyone. It\u2019s getting harder and harder in the world, but here, it\u2019s just about horror [movies],\u201d said Angel Castorena, who first started organizing the events nearly four years ago. \u201cIt gives people a place to step away.\u201d<\/p>\n

Castorena worked in San Antonio\u2019s music industry for years before the COVID-19 pandemic halted most events. As in-person activities returned, he decided to focus on his passion for horror movies.<\/p>\n

\"\"Kings of Horror associate and collector Freddy Matta sports a branded shirt from the 1985 zombie flick \u201cThe Return of The Living Dead\u201d from director Dan O\u2019Bannon while hanging around in the Wonderland of The Americas Mall foodcourt on Jan. 29, 2026. Credit: Amber Esparza \/ San Antonio Report<\/p>\n

In 2022, he and a small group of friends hosted an event with a single celebrity at The Rock Box, an Eastside concert venue. The first event was Steven King-themed, hence the Kings of Horror name, which stuck.<\/p>\n

From the beginning, Castorena wanted the events to be free.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were trying to keep it affordable and accessible,\u201d he said. \u201cThis should be for everyone. That\u2019s our goal.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kings of Horror has grown slowly and organically, but Castorena says it started in 2022 when they organized an event based on the 1987 comedy horror film\u00a0\u201cThe Lost Boys.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe moved the show here,\u201d he said. \u201cIt was going to be too big. It morphed into something it wasn\u2019t supposed to be.\u201d<\/p>\n

Castorena called Victoria Hernandez, the marketing manager at Wonderland. They decided to take a chance on the idea. Castorena and Kings of Horror proved the risk was worth it.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe knocked it out of the park,\u201d Hernandez said. \u201cHe and his team really know how to research and understand what\u2019s working.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wonderland of the Americas opened its doors to third-party events several years ago, Hernandez said, hoping to find a way to bring in more foot traffic and attention.<\/p>\n

The mall at 4522 Fredericksburg Rd. has seen major tenants leave like Santikos Entertainment\u2019s Bijou movie theater in 2022. It\u2019s\u00a0anchored by<\/a>\u00a0discount stores like Burlington\u2019s, Ross Dress for Less and Five Below and features a group of small businesses inside of The Little Shops at Wonderland.<\/p>\n

Kings of Horror events have been boosting attention and foot traffic at the mall for the past four years. People eat in the food court or shop in stores, find something they like and return on their own.<\/p>\n

These days, Kings of Horror puts on events each month, Castorena said, with three or four really large shows throughout the year that can draw as many as 5,000 attendees.<\/p>\n

Vendors pay a fee to be a part of the event. Kings of Horror then uses that money to cover travel and lodging for celebrities, who in turn make their money from photos and autographs at the events.<\/p>\n

Kings of Horror has built a reputation inside and outside of San Antonio. Fans come from other states. Movie and television show agents see the events Kings of Horror puts on, even if they\u2019re in a mall, and understand how the events are structured to be more accessible. The word is out.<\/p>\n

\"\"The movie section at Kings of Horror includes signed VHS copies of films from horror and non-horror genres. Credit: Amber Esparza \/ San Antonio Report<\/p>\n

\u201cGoing into this year, we\u2019ve had agents offer [to come to] us,\u201d Castorena said.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a win-win. Wonderland of the Americas has plenty of free parking and free admission, Castorena said. That\u2019s part of what makes the events widely accessible.<\/p>\n

Other comic book conventions or fan events tend to cost more money. Between vendors and elaborate decorations, Castorena wants to bring that same energy to Wonderland of the Americas without those pricey tickets at the door.<\/p>\n

That way, guests can come and enjoy a free experience or choose to spend money on food, photos with celebrities or the wares sold by vendors.<\/p>\n

For attendees like Nancy and Ted Bicacio, the events feel more local. Ted Bicacio comes every chance he gets. It feels like home, he said, and there are fewer tourists wandering around.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s very niche to San Antonio. It\u2019s a local favorite,\u201d Nancy Bicacio added. \u201cWe\u2019ve kind of strayed away from places like the Pearl.\u201d<\/p>\n

The pop-culture focus has a broad appeal, she added. Kids, parents and grandparents roam Wonderland of the Americas, where they can see nostalgic callbacks to 1980s horror movies, cult classics and the latest merchandise from animated TV shows coming out this week.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a little bit for everybody. It doesn\u2019t exclude any age group,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Mall evolution<\/p>\n

In-person shopping cratered during the pandemic and it\u2019s struggled to come back since, Hernandez said. Wonderland of the Americas has endured struggles in the last decade, including a tumultuous ownership deal<\/a> with the City of Balcones Heights.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s never going to be that 1960s building anymore,\u201d Hernandez said. \u201cRetail is not what it used to be.\u201d<\/p>\n

Instead, Hernandez said, the mall decided to try something different. Wonderland of the Americas has added medical offices and clinics, building on its proximity to the South Texas Medical Center. It was also a major vaccine hub during the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can be a beautiful peach, but if they don\u2019t like peaches, they\u2019re not going to come,\u201d Hernandez said. \u201cWe\u2019ve embraced what works.\u201d<\/p>\n

Then they decided to open the door to the nerds, Hernandez said. \u201cI say that lovingly.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Hernandez asked Castorena to expand the events beyond a single genre. They have, adding other movies and television shows, like their \u201cGilmore Girls\u201d event.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt really brought a fresh breath of air back into Wonderland,\u201d Hernandez said. \u201cIt\u2019s a win for all. It\u2019s a circle. It helps so many businesses and vendors and the city.\u201d<\/p>\n

Small business success<\/p>\n

Barb and Steven Hinds own Goomba\u2019s Pizzeria in the Wonderland of the Americas food court.<\/p>\n

In their 15 years at the mall, they\u2019ve never seen anything like it. Events had been important for the restaurant before Kings of Horror began its work at Wonderland of the Americas. But Castorena and his team have taken it to another level.<\/p>\n

\"\"The Kings of Horror gang grabs a bite to eat at the Wonderland of America\u2019s Mall foodcourt from the Vicious Eats food stand. Credit: Amber Esparza \/ San Antonio Report<\/p>\n

The increase in business is noticeable. Since Kings of Horror started at the mall, the family has bought a house and paid off a car. Steven Hinds still remembers the first event Kings of Horror hosted.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was the busiest weekend we\u2019d ever had. Ever,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

At a recent \u201cStranger Things\u201d event in January, Goombas had a record Sunday and a record hour of sales.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe always think we\u2019re maxed out,\u201d he said. Then they do better.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Across the food court, Vicious Eats<\/a> owners Chastity Morales and Traci Kolesar-Morales took a break before the lunch rush to talk about the Kings of Horror events. <\/p>\n

The couple started running a food truck featuring their burgers in 2001 and worked with Castorena at early events at The Rock Box. They followed Kings of Horror to Wonderland and have since put down roots.<\/p>\n

\u201cAngel [Castorena] is the reason we\u2019re in here,\u201d Morales said. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt didn\u2019t take long for us to double, triple what we were doing in that trailer,\u201d Kolesar-Morales added.<\/p>\n

A sign above the cash register reads \u2018Sorry, we\u2019re Punks.\u2019 Vicious Eats embraces the horror and punk rock vibe that can come with the fan scene.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe people who come to his events are our people,\u201d Morales said.<\/p>\n

The transition from The Rock Box to the Wonderland of the Americas wasn\u2019t always smooth, Kolesar-Morales said. Now, though, the Kings of Horror events are booming.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a mix of everybody. It\u2019s a good place for the weirdos, the outcasts, the good people,\u201d Morales said.<\/p>\n

Steven Hinds, who owns the pizza shop, says he knows all the other restaurant owners inside of the food court and they often help one another out. They\u2019re all locally owned shops \u2014 there are no national fast food chains.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is how America was built, on these businesses, these mom and pops,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\"\"Vicious Eats, which derived its name from Punk Rock icon Sid Vicious of the Sex Pistols, has become a fixture in the Kings of Horror and Wonderland of The Americas Mall community. Credit: Amber Esparza \/ San Antonio Report<\/p>\n

Sense of community<\/p>\n

Lora Flores sells customized drawings and portraits printed onto stone slate canvases. Alexia Rodriguez, who sells digital art printed onto wood panels, started vending at Kings of Horror in 2023.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Both artists struggled to find consistent buyers at other events. Both artists found their community at Kings of Horror.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel like I found my place,\u201d Rodriguez said. \u201cI feel like everyone really loves horror.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kings of Horror prioritizes a diverse, creative group of vendors who bring different products to the table, Flores said. There are ample opportunities for success at events that draw in audiences with celebrities and attention to detail and decoration.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot a lot of pop-ups go all out like that,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Flores and Rodriguez noted the community that\u2019s grown up around the events. They have regulars that come back again and again to see their art. They\u2019re also personally invested in the events \u2014 they\u2019ve each taken on roles at Kings of Horror.<\/p>\n

Flores is the business\u2019 office manager, while Rodriguez works on marketing materials and graphic design.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s great. We\u2019ve gotten close. We\u2019ve become this big family. We all know each other. We look forward to the weekend so we can see each other,\u201d Flores said.<\/p>\n

\"\"Credit: Jasper Kenzo Sundeen \/ San Antonio Report<\/p>\n

Three weeks after putting on a hectic \u201cStranger Things\u201d event in January, a group of people dressed in old horror movie t-shirts laugh and eat sandwiches and burgers in the Wonderland of the Americas food court.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cEven though we all have our own separate lives, we\u2019re all pushing toward the same goal,\u201d said David Salinas.<\/p>\n

Salinas is one of several Kings of Horror staff members who started as an attendee, but has since joined the tight community that\u2019s laser-focused on creating a fun experience for fans. <\/p>\n

After \u201cThe Lost Boys\u201d event, he decided he needed to be a part of it. He\u2019d brought a camera and he went to Castorena and offered to make two promotional videos for the event that night.<\/p>\n

\"\"Kings of Horror Web Designer Ernesto Oliva, left, and videographer David Salinas review content for the shop together at Wonderland of The Americas Mall on Jan. 29, 2026. Credit: Amber Esparza \/ San Antonio Report<\/p>\n

Kings of Horror works together to hone their events and learn from their mistakes.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are times over the last couple of years when I wasn\u2019t sure we could make it to the next show or even through the weekend,\u201d Castorena said.<\/p>\n

For Castorena, it\u2019s important to build a place where people belong. It\u2019s not just about business, it\u2019s about community. He seeks celebrity lineups that are balanced between male and female actors. He tries to highlight characters from the LGBTQ+ community.<\/p>\n

Castorena says his fondest memories are when people come in with costumes they made themselves. When neurodiverse kids can relax and have fun. When fans can come in and capture some piece of the nostalgia and comfort people feel when they\u2019re curled up on their couch or eating popcorn at the theater watching their favorite shows and movies.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not about spending money,\u201d Castorena said. \u201cWe want to be around people who love and believe in what we do. That is everything.\u201d<\/p>\n

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