In 2024, Judith and Jesus Rendon bought an old post office on Southcross Boulevard.
Over the last two years, they spent late nights working on the space between taking care of their children and keeping up with their various community efforts.
Judith Rendon serves on the board for Center for Health Empowerment in South Texas. Jesus Rendon teaches part time at Palo Alto College and is a board member at South San Antonio Independent School District, when he’s not working for a local cyber operations company.
On Friday, the couple officially gave the 7,000-square-foot brick building new life as the Rendon Entrepreneurial Center.
The center brings together coworking and office space with educational and healthcare resources the Rendons have worked with in San Antonio.
“We hope for this place to be the launch pad for economic opportunity on the South Side,” Jesus Rendon said.
By giving entrepreneurs from the neighborhood space and access to expertise, he says he hopes more businesses start and incomes rise. He wants to connect residents with educational opportunities through South San Antonio ISD and Palo Alto College so they can get higher paying jobs in the area.
“I’d like to see businesses grow through the REC,” he said. “I’d like to see kids get jobs at Port San Antonio. I want to see companies get government contracts.”
The center will offer a combination of paid and free services. Coworking space, offices and suites will be available for rent, he said, with discounts for residents living south of U.S. Highway 90.
But business development services and entrepreneurial education will be free. As an adjunct business professor, Jesus Rendon says he plans to advise entrepreneurs from the area on how to start limited liability companies, get their employer identification numbers and seek funding.
The center will also host events and artistic performances on the last Friday of each month on a stage at the back of the building. There is also a podcast room that community members will be able to access.
“People who want to be an influencer, people who want to try things, they can do it here,” he said.
Southside politicians attended the center’s ribbon cutting on Friday afternoon and emphasized its importance to the community.
“For way too long, the southern sector of Bexar County has been neglected,” said Bexar County Commissioner Rebeca Clay Flores (Pct. 1).
“The opening of the REC shows us how committed our community is to revitalizing a historic corridor in Southwest San Antonio and providing the much-needed support for current and prospective small business owners,” added Councilman Edward Mungia (D4).
Jesus Rendon said South San Antonio residents don’t have business development opportunities like other corners of San Antonio.
“We’re the only one. That’s why it’s important for us to be here,” he said. “I’m here for the long run. I live a street away. This is my community.”
