The Filling Station Tap Room, the tiny gas-station-turned-taproom that has been a Southtown staple for nearly 15 years, will close at the end of the month, with its last night set for next Saturday, March 21. Owners Jon and Stacie Rowe are winding down the small taproom while keeping their adjacent Station Cafe open, which means regulars and cyclists who treated the spot as a pre- or post-ride hangout are about to lose a familiar King William patio and one of the neighborhood’s cheaper pint options.
Owner Jon Rowe confirmed the closure to MySA, explaining that the taproom’s lease had ended and the couple chose not to renew it. “Even though we get a fair amount of business, it’s just not enough to sustain a new lease,” Rowe told MySA, calling the decision “a little bit heartbreaking” while also admitting to feeling some relief.
Jon and Stacie Rowe opened The Station Cafe in 2006 inside a historic Texaco station, and in 2011 they moved the cafe next door while converting the old service station into the Filling Station Tap Room & Snack Shack, according to The Station Cafe website. The combination of straightforward sandwiches next door and a small taproom pouring rotating local drafts helped the business build a loyal following over the years.
Lease, Ownership and the King William Strip
The block that houses the cafe and taproom has changed hands in recent years. Austin-based 35 South Capital bought the King William Center in late 2023, according to reporting by San Antonio Report. Rowe told MySA the new owners “looked at their property differently,” a shift he suggested helped push the decision not to renew the taproom lease.
Southtown’s Shifting Scene
The end of the Filling Station also arrives during a broader contraction for San Antonio taprooms and small breweries, as market pressures and changing drinking habits reshape the local landscape. CultureMap San Antonio reported that Freetail Brewing closed its Southtown taproom in October 2025 and noted that saturation, shifting tastes and competition from larger brands have put the squeeze on smaller operators…