Carriqui, a 380-seat restaurant housed in a renovated, 1890 structure is closing after a three-year run at Pearl.
Known for its massive 11,000-square-foot space and custom smokehouse with outdoor patios, Carriqui will continue service through Oct. 19.
“Since opening, Carriqui has become recognized as a standout in Pearl’s culinary landscape, offering a menu inspired by the flavors and traditions of South Texas,” Silver Ventures chief marketing officer Mike Joergensen said in a statement. “We value our associates immensely and are committed to helping them transition into new roles within Pearl’s ecosystem. We will communicate what’s next for the historic Boehler building in the near future.”
Although no reasons were given for the announced shuttering, Carriqui may have fallen victim to industry headwinds: rising labor costs, worker shortages and evolving consumer behavior.
“We continue to navigate through a tough economy with rising costs of goods and ongoing labor shortages that often lead to increased overtime and higher payroll expenses,” said Blanca Aldaco, president of the San Antonio chapter of the Texas Restaurant Association.
According to statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor, between 50 to 80 percent of restaurants fail within the first five years.
“Indeed the current situation of many restaurants is dire,” said Geronimo Lopez, executive chef at Pearl’s Supper. “We have seen brutal years lately and that caused a slew of places to close down. Here at the Pearl is no different.”
Lopez worked at Botika when it closed at Pearl in 2024. Allora and Arrosta also closed at Pearl the same year.
“Sometimes the American clientele prefers comfort and known brands,” Lopez said. “Folks are looking for the best possible value and it becomes a perfect storm. Sad but true.”
Carriqui opened in August 2022 with sparkle and shine. It boasted a gleaming new storefront on a century-old building. It showcased an executive chef, Jaime Gonzalez, from the Le Cordon Bleu cooking school. It featured a menu inspired by the migratory flight of a green jay, a bird known in Spanish as a “carriqui.”
While it did not market itself as a Mexican restaurant, Carriqui offered South of the Border fare: barbacoa tacos, classic nachos, enchiladas and cabrito empanadas.
The building holds an interesting history. A German immigrant named Fritz Boehler opened a boardinghouse, saloon and general store in 1890. The Boehler House later became known as Boehler’s Garden and Boehler’s Bar & Grille.
In 1985, the building became home to the Liberty Bar for nearly a quarter century. Rio Perla Properties bought the property in 2014 and stabilized the structure, which had slanting floors and leaning walls. In 2020, the building was moved from 328 E. Josephine Street to 239 E. Grayson Street.
After considerable renovations, Carriqui opened two years later. Gonzalez, the executive chef, told the San Antonio Report at the time, “This place is full of Tex-Mex [and] Mexican food, but I think what we’re going to do is just the best of everything — the best of nachos, the best of ceviche.”
