Clayton Korte

Potchernick’s Cervecería breathes new life into what was once San Antonio’s much loved Potchernick’s Sporting Goods store. In business from 1904 to 1991, Potchernick’s held claim as the second oldest continuously operating sporting goods store in the United States. Vacant since it closed, the narrow building (two-hundred-feet long and a mere twenty-eight-feet wide) is restored, renewed, and reimagined as a combination restaurant and brewery with a new urban paseo that connects the business district with the city’s famed Riverwalk.

The building’s original storefront entry on St. Mary’s Street has transformed into a quick-bite comal kiosk, offering a rich sensory experience that hints at the activity within. Inside, the space is divided to house the new cervecería as well as a monumental 185-foot-long paseo, a ramp that stretches the length of the 11,200-square-foot building. The ramp, recalling a historic paseo that once occupied the site, parallels the brewery, bar, and seating area before opening out to the Riverwalk.

Restored skylights and steel-framed windows illuminate the time-worn D’Hanis clay block and concrete-and-stucco walls, while a new interior glass enclosure showcases stainless steel brewing tanks — the heart of the brewery. A portion of the original floor on the river side of the building was removed to create a two-story space that highlights the existing concrete structure and helps pull natural light deep into the building. A mix of seating for around 125 guests includes two-top tables, bar stools, and picnic tables (inside and outside). With an unpretentious yet considered aesthetic, the venue reanimates a forgotten space along the Riverwalk where guests can stop in for conversation, tacos and beer.

CLAYTON KORTE PROJECT TEAM:
Sam Manning, Partner in Charge
Stephen Williams, Project Architect
Christian Hertzog, Project Manager

CONSULTANT TEAM:
Architecture: Clayton Korte
Interior Designer: Clayton Korte
Structural Engineer: Lundy & Franke
Mechanical / Plumbing / Electrical Engineer: Jordan & Skala
Developer: Potch 211, LLC
Operator: The Mighty Union