The latest closure to hit San Antonio’s Southtown neighborhood might be symptomatic of a larger transition for the arts and culture district, which has seen numerous shakeups in recent years.
Near Dark confirmed in a social media post that its last day of business will be Saturday, April 4. For four years, the goth bar has been a part of the South Presa retail strip that has long housed Taco Haven among several bars, restaurants and even a tattoo shop.
That same strip has seen a few of the comings and goings in recent years that appear to be a part of an ongoing shift happening throughout Southtown. In 2026, Southtown felt the loss of Brick at Blue Star and the Filling Station Tap Room, two enduring businesses that had unceremonious exits connected to issues of rent.
“The rent has gone up quite a bit for everyone here,” Jon Rowe, owner of Filling Station, told MySA in a recent interview. “Even though we get a fair amount of business, it’s just not enough to sustain a new lease.”…