Carlos and Clarece Clavijo run a construction company that builds homes and commercial properties.
Carlos, the president, and Clarece, the vice president, call Habitat Construction Services their 9-to-5 job.
After hours, the husband and wife team manage restaurants. Their newest venture, a Latin coastal cuisine concept called (a)mar, launches at Pearl in May.
“Latin coastal cuisine is a combination of different ingredients and flavors from all the coastal regions of Mexico and Latin America,” said Carlos, a co-founder with Clarece.
Inspired by travels through Tulum on the Caribbean coastline, Oaxaca on the Pacific coastline and tours through the South American coastlines of Colombia and Peru, the Clavijos imagined a concept with two meanings. “Amar” is Spanish for “to love;” “mar” is Spanish for “sea.”
Together, (a)mar reflects the Clavijo’s love for the rich, vibrant flavors of coastal waters. A kitchen helmed by Chef Edgar Soberon will deliver ceviches, white fish, salmon and more.
“Grilled octopus will be one of our specialties,” said Carlos, who will cook on occasion.
The menu will include steaks, ribeye aguachile, tuna carnitas, tuna nachos, shrimp and fish tacos and seafood cocktails.
The couple says (a)mar will be more than an homage to coastal cuisine. It will boast more than the finest flavors of the sea.
“We’re going to have a speakeasy,” Clarece said. “There will be a secret access from the restaurant to a more moody and rustic place. It will showcase the beauty behind the making of mezcal.”
A carefully composed mezcal and wine program from Mexican producers will be a staple of the new concept.
Carlos, a native of Mexico City, and Clarece, a San Antonian, met while studying construction science at the University of Texas at San Antonio. After college, they opened a construction company and ventured into the restaurant business, opening Mexican concepts in Laredo and Mexico City.
An opportunity opened at Pearl. They seized it and (a)mar will occupy the space formerly held by Allora in the Credit Human building on Broadway.
“The Pearl for us is like the heart of San Antonio,” Carlos said. “It’s a place where all these cultures with different cuisines and restaurants come together. It‘s a space that lets us create something to share with the people of San Antonio.”
The founders of (a)mar possess an expansive culinary vision. Though specifics have yet to be announced, the restaurant will launch a chef-in-residence program. Guest chefs from Latin America, Japan and other coastal regions around the world will collaborate on seasonal menus.
As the Clavijos work out those details, they’re also designing the restaurant interior to reflect a relaxed yet refined destination. At the same time, the couple is running their construction company.
Habitat does big business. According to its website, the company has accumulated more than $2.7 billion in combined work volume experience. With all of the energy devoted to that enterprise, how will the Clavijo’s make time to open a new restaurant?
The couple chuckled. Carlos said, “(a)mar is going to be done after 5 o’clock.”
