Architect: Don B. McDonald
Owner: Pearl / Silver Ventures
Construction: Troy Jessee
Photo Credits:
Materials Used: Heritage wood, reclaimed wood
In a world that prizes convenience and speed over conservation and craftsmanship, it’s exceedingly rare to find architects and developers so committed to preserving built heritage that they’ll go the very outer limits in order to breathe new life into a new building.
But at the Liberty Bar building in downtown San Antonio’s revered Pearl complex, a trio of professionals shared an uncompromising vision – one that would transcend any concerns over budget, timeline or even practicality – to shore up a city icon for the next generation.
We were honored to be involved in the transformation of the Liberty Bar into Carriqui, a destination restaurant celebrating everything that’s great about south Texan cuisine. Let’s take a closer look at this fascinating and inspiring project.
A San Antonio landmark
Occupying a former nunnery dating back to the 1800s and located in the historic King William district of San Antonio, the Liberty Bar building was a boardinghouse, saloon, and general store opened by a German immigrant named Fritz Boehler, whose descendants owned and operated the property for nearly a century, relying on employees of the Pearl Brewery, just down the street, for much of its business.
By the late 1980s, Liberty Bar was as famous for its trendy nightlife scenes and eclectic clientele – artists, writers, businessmen and political leaders all gathering under its roof – as for its gravity-defying lean, the result of termite and water damage over many years.
When Liberty Bar moved out of the building in 2010, it was briefly home to Boehler’s Bar & Grill and then Minnie’s Tavern, before closed in 2014 – seemingly relegated to sure and certain demolition, in the absence of any historic status, until it was purchased by developer Silver Ventures.
On the move
Thus began an ambitious plan to save this iconic building, restoring its structural integrity without losing any of its character or history – and incredibly, relocating the entire building to a brand-new address.
Working alongside acclaimed architect Don B. McDonald and a team from Troy Jessee Construction, the Silver Ventures team began assessing the building, discovering the second floor to be a full 12 inches out of plumb. Undeterred, they began a painstaking process of binding everything together with cables, screws and cranks, which were inexorably tightened over many months, pulling the building back to square.
The entire structure was then lifted off its foundations, and its damaged first floor removed and reconstructed while keeping the second floor intact. A new concrete foundation was poured a block away, and the renovated building was then placed on steel rollers and moved to its new location.
Carriqui is born
Once the Liberty building had been relocated, construction began on a second, adjoining building – the Rock House - that would give the finished restaurant a seating capacity of more than 400. With an expansive patio featuring outdoor BBQ pits, and careful integration of old and new, the effect is a triumphant homage to south Texan culture and cuisine.
Remnants of the property’s storied past have been carefully preserved, including the original windows and hardwood floors, the latter of which were re-milled by WoodCo and repurposed in the ceilings.
Heritage wood has been used throughout the building, ensuring every surface is infused with history and character. We were tasked with salvaging as much wood as possible from the Pearl project’s considerable reclaimed stocks, amassed over years of restoring other buildings in the complex, which includes Hotel Emma and the Stable Hall concert venue as well as clusters of shops, workspaces and eateries tucked into the area’s historic architecture.
Heritage wood
We milled all the lumber for the doors, windows, floors, stairs and ceilings throughout the building, re-milling what we could from Pearl’s salvaged supplies, and matching from our own reclaimed wood stock where additional material was required.
These heritage timbers are perfectly paired with thoughtful interior choices. Designer Kristen Weber worked with local artisans and tradespeople to source tables made from native woods including mesquite, walnut and long-leaf pine, infusing the entire space with inimitable, South Texas spirit and providing the perfect foil for its classic menu of Gulf seafood, pit-cooked barbacoa and Tex-Mex favorites served with hand-shaken margaritas.
Got a restoration project coming up?
WoodCo specializes in reclaimed, restored and character grade wood for distinctively different interior projects, including heritage architecture. Get in touch with our team today to learn more about our expertise, or to discuss an upcoming job.
