The St. Mary’s Strip is a vibrant nightlife district reminiscent of Austin’s famed Sixth Street, offering a dynamic array of late-night clubs and bars. Stretching from The Lonesome Rose to Vibras near Highway 281, this area has become a hub for live music and entertainment. A cornerstone of the Strip is the legendary concert venue Paper Tiger, renowned for hosting both local and national acts, solidifying its status as a cultural landmark.
In recent years, the St. Mary’s Strip has embraced a more relaxed ambiance, welcoming establishments that cater to diverse tastes. Little Death Wine Bar offers patrons a curated selection of natural wines in an intimate setting, providing a serene alternative to the district’s bustling nightlife. Similarly, Curry Boys BBQ has garnered acclaim for its innovative combination of Southeast Asian flavors with traditional Texas barbecue. The establishment’s culinary excellence was recognized as a 2024 James Beard Award semifinalist, and it was ranked as the fourth-best place to eat in Texas by Yelp users.
This evolution of the St. Mary’s Strip reflects San Antonio’s broader trend of blending its rich cultural heritage with contemporary influences. The district’s unique combination of energetic nightlife and refined dining experiences makes it a microcosm of the city’s dynamic downtown scene, aligning seamlessly with other notable areas highlighted by the Voice of San Antonio.
THE VOICE:
Lorenzo Gomez III
Lorenzo Gomez III is a community builder, author, and public speaker who draws from his personal and professional experiences to inspire others. A former director at Rackspace Technology, Gomez is a key player in the development of San Antonio’s downtown entrepreneurial ecosystem. During Gomez’s four years as chairman and CEO of Geekdom, San Antonio’s premier collaborative startup community, Geekdom companies raised more than $422M in funding and its startups have created 2,489 jobs. A trusted advisor to Graham Weston, co-founder of Rackspace Technology, Gomez helped shape Weston’s 80|20 Foundation, which invests in San Antonio’s future by issuing grants to public charities that attract, grow, and retain San Antonio’s future workforce and job-creating entrepreneurs. Gomez has authored four books: Cilantro Diaries, Tafolla Toro, The Rack We Built, and The Bully in Your Pocket. All four are Amazon best sellers and two are winners of the 2021 International Latino Book Awards. Lorenzo’s driving passion is his love for his hometown, San Antonio, Texas. His goal is to recreate for every San Antonian the opportunities the startup world has provided him in this city on the rise.