 What's Brewing
at Pearl
By SHARON GARCIA
Once a dormant reminder of San Antonio’s illustrious brewing history, the former Pearl Brewery site is once again bustling with activity and the promise of things to come.
Located on 22 acres alongside the San Antonio River just north of downtown, the historic Pearl Brewery complex is undergoing a transformation that will create a gathering place where urban living, great food, art, ideas, events and education all come together, according to Bill Shown, managing director of real estate for Silver Ventures, the developer of the brewery project.
Plans for the adaptive re-use of the brewery, a San Antonio landmark in operation from 1883 until 2001, combine renovation of historic structures with new construction. They were developed after careful deliberation to ensure the project would not only preserve but enhance the historic nature of the site.
“Our aspirations for the site include incorporating the existing historic structures into a tapestry of gardens, plazas, public pathways, open spaces and tree-lined streets,” says Shown. “Our intent is to create a vibrant village on the river.”
Initial projects have included the Center for Foods of the Americas (CFA), a culinary school developed in consultation with The Culinary Institute of America (CIA); the AVEDA Institute San Antonio; Texas Farm to Table Cafe, a popular cafe serving breakfast and lunch using Texas-grown ingredients; and Pearl Stable, a redevelopment of the brewery’s original stable building into a state-of-the-art event and meeting facility.
 Pearl Stable
After more than a year of painstaking restoration and renovation, the new Pearl Stable event and meeting venue opened its doors for business in late May 2006 with its first event.
The distinctive, oval-shaped building began life in 1894 as home to the draft horses that hauled wagons loaded with Pearl Beer on delivery routes across San Antonio. Later, it became the Jersey Lilly, a social hall that was the scene of thousands of civic luncheons and events – while serving up samples of free Pearl Beer to generations of visitors to the brewery.
Today, the Pearl Stable has returned to its former splendor. Original architectural features torn out or plastered over for the Jersey Lilly are back, restored by architects who spent hours poring through turn-of-the-century photos and historical accounts.
“Plans for the stable called for emphasizing many of the original features, such as re-creating the decorative entrance façade, reopening the windows that originally circled the building, exposing the 110-year- old roof structure and rebuilding the pyramid-shaped cupola that topped the roofline,” says Shown.
The new Pearl Stable offers a uniquely elegant site for business events and social occasions with 5,525 square feet of space on the ground floor encircled by an 800-square-foot mezzanine. An additional 1,800- square-foot foyer and gallery outlines the perimeter of the building. Inside the main meeting space, a newly restored stage, intricate iron work, and massive chandeliers are complemented by state-of-the-art lighting, sound and communication technologies for meetings, banquets, conferences, weddings, receptions and any other indoor event for up to 500 people. Outside, two courtyards provide additional outdoor event space overlooking an elliptical-shaped stone fountain.
This spirited event venue is already generating a great deal of interest among those looking for a new and unique setting for their next function. Call for pricing, availability and event capabilities.
 Train Engine No. 2
Just outside the Pearl Stable, adjacent to the entry courtyard, stands the impressively restored Texas Transportation Company electric train engine “No. 2,” now on permanent display as a nostalgic tribute to the brewery’s past.
Originally built in 1907, the little engine found a home at the Pearl Brewery in 1949 and was used for over 50 years to haul freight cars filled with barley, hops and grain into the brewery, and to haul out newly filled cases of Pearl Beer.
San Antonio’s own Trans-Texas Rail Shop undertook the time-intensive job of refurbishing engine No. 2, beginning in 2005. The shop is one of few in the country that specializes in restoring vintage rail cars to their former mechanical and aesthetic glory. The train was repainted according to its original color scheme to look just as it did back in 1949 when it first came to the brewery.
The train engine makes a great addition to the outdoor event space of the Pearl Stable and can be used for special presentations, as a photo spot or even as an alternate location to showcase entertainment.
Aveda Institute
In April of 2005, Texas’ first Aveda Institute opened as the first permanent tenant in the new Pearl development. A global company recognized in the skin and hair care industry for excellence in professional career training as well as a commitment to environmentally friendly and natural products, the Aveda Institute offers hands-on training in hair, skin, nail care and makeup application.
The San Antonio campus was cleverly constructed from the brewery’s former garage, transformed into an open and spacious facility that is drawing students from across the country and a diverse clientele. An array of salon services -- haircuts and coloring, manicures, facials, waxing and scalp treatments – is available from advanced students under the supervision of Aveda instructors.
A complete listing of services and prices is available at the Aveda San Antonio Web site. Appointments should be made well in advance.
According to Institute CEO Kathy Thalman, who is running the school along with her daughter, Holly Zapata, an Aveda graduate who serves as Institute Educational Director, and son, Chase Thalman, Institute systems director, the Institute focuses not only on intense hands-on experience, but the financial, business and life skills students need to make their careers a success. It is associated with the network of Aveda Institutes across the country, including those in Chicago, New York, Minneapolis, Atlanta, Phoenix and St. Petersburg.
Texas Farm to Table
Tucked within the Aveda Institute building is a popular fresh-food restaurant, Texas Farm to Table Cafe, which focuses on fare that, whenever possible, is organic, purchased locally and harvested in season.
The restaurant, operated by Brian and Elise Montgomery, is open primarily for lunch, though they do offer tasty baked goods and a limited menu for breakfast as well.
With menu items that center on farm-fresh Texas foods, healthy gourmet meals and signature desserts, it’s no wonder that Texas Farm to Table was recently featured on Texas Country Reporter with Bob Philips.
 Center for Foods of the Americas
One of the anchors of the Pearl redevelopment project is the new Center for Foods of the Americas (CFA), a professional culinary school developed in consultation with the Culinary Institute of America (CIA).
The CFA offers a 30-week certificate program for aspiring chefs early in their foodservice careers as well as culinary professionals. The curriculum is the CIA curriculum, which goes beyond developing basic culinary skills to provide the most in-depth and challenging program in the industry. And the CFA’s facilities and equipment are designed to the same exacting standards used for CIA campuses. The CFA program will be equivalent to the first year of study at the CIA campus in Hyde Park, NY, and will be taught by visiting CIA faculty.
The school opened with its first class in March 2006. With both morning and evening courses now under way, applications to the school are being accepted on an ongoing basis. To qualify for the CFA, prospective students must have a high school diploma or GED, as well as at least six months of restaurant or foodservice experience. This experience can include work in a commercial kitchen, volunteer service or other employment that provides “hands-on” experience with food preparation. Applications are available online at the CFA Web site.
As the CFA develops, it will begin offering extension programs to serve the training and development needs of the local hospitality industry. The school also plans a continuing education program with a focus on Latin cuisine, designed to make San Antonio a destination for culinary professionals.
What’s next?
While plans for the remaining buildings and acreage at the Pearl Brewery are still under development, the master plan calls for the adaptive re-use of the entire site, forming an urban neighborhood of residential and retail space, educational facilities, restaurants, entertainment venues and galleries. Silver Ventures will also be turning its attention to improvements and redevelopment along the stretch of river adjacent to the property.
Based on progress to date, future projects at the Pearl site are certain to be planned and executed with meticulous attention to detail, architectural integrity and a sense of scale and community. Without a doubt, something special is brewing at Pearl! |
