Historic Kusch House Available for Lease at Hemisfair
Situated in the middle of three public parks and steps away from the River Walk, Kusch House presents perfect opportunity for small businesses looking to operate or expand in premier downtown location
Hemisfair is seeking proposals from local businesses and entrepreneurs who are looking to expand or launch their concept in downtown San Antonio. A leasing opportunity is available in the historic Kusch House, an 1880s-era building that sits at the westernmost edge of Tower Park where it intersects with Yanaguana Garden and Civic Park. Interested parties can submit proposals to activate the Kusch House at hemisfair.org/rfi.
“With the momentum building following Civic Park’s groundbreaking, Kusch House offers an exceptional view of it all,” said Andres Andujar, CEO of Hemisfair. “We want to hear the small business community’s big ideas for breathing new life into this historic building and showcasing what San Antonio has to offer for all who visit, play and live at Hemisfair.”
The building’s exterior, including windows, doors and roofing, has been stabilized and updated thanks to significant philanthropic investment, including a generous grant from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation. Remaining grant funds will be utilized to augment build-out once a small business tenant is selected.
The 1,100-square-foot structure includes an additional 385 sq. ft. of front and rear porch space and 550 sq. ft. of basement area. The property also features an outdoor space suitable for additional seating with views of the Tower of the Americas. The areas surrounding the property serve as one of the most active pedestrian gateways in downtown, with proximity to nearby retail offerings, parking facilities, residences and attractions such as the River Walk and Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center.
The Hemisfair district exercises a flexible lease structure with its tenants, who rent the historic homes they occupy based on a percentage of sales. Hemisfair typically enjoys more than 600,000 visitors annually, though the lease structure is particularly forgiving in times of low attendance or economic uncertainty such as a pandemic. Revenue generated by leasing the house contributes to Hemisfair’s financial sustainability and helps it become an active, urban park district for residents and visitors to enjoy.
The RFI encourages proposals in the areas of food and beverage, retail or health and wellness. Hemisfair follows a public procurement process for new onsite business opportunities, typically with a three-month to one-year timeline from selection to opening, pending design and construction needs.
RFI responses are due by 5:59 p.m. on Friday, June 10, 2022. The complete RFI package and a list of frequently asked questions are available at hemisfair.org/rfi. Tours of the space are available by appointment for interested parties, and a pre-submittal conference and open house will take place at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 17.
Yanaguana Garden, Hemisfair’s first park phase that opened in 2015, is home to Box Street Social, CommonWealth Coffeehouse & Bakery, Dough Pizzeria Napoletana, EnergyX Fitness, Lick Honest Ice Creams, Magik Theatre, Paletería San Antonio and Re:Rooted 210 Urban Winery. Bombay Bicycle Club, Künstler Tap & Brat-Haus and Jerk Shack are slated to open in the near future.