UPDATE: Steve Mahoney’s attorneys provided a statement about the temporary closure, but did not clarify if he was assuming ownership of the bar.
“Hanzo is not closed,” wrote Mahoney’s representation. “Hanzo is temporarily undergoing renovations, and Hanzo will reopen by January 2, 2026. Regarding the lawsuit, the matter has been amicably resolved by a settlement with terms agreeable to all Parties.”
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After eight years in business, Hanzo is taking a break. In a sudden move, the gastropub at 7701 Broadway #124 in Alamo Heights posted a handwritten sign noting the popular San Antonio happy hour spot is temporarily closed.
Steve Mahoney — the prolific barman behind Francis Bogside, Blue Box Bar, and Lily’s Greenville — first introduced Hanzo to San Antonio in May 2018. The concept was inspired by Japanese izakayas, offering Asian-influenced cocktails, sushi, and a shared plates menu created by then-Francis Bogside chef Justin Richardson.
The spot quickly became a neighborhood favorite for its generous happy hour deals, a staple of all the bars in Mahoney’s portfolio. The pop culture interior, combining a punk aesthetic with Japanese movie posters and contemporary furnishings, made it a standout in Alamo City’s nightlife scene.
It’s unclear why Hanzo shuttered, but many of the bars Mahoney opened with late business partner Robert Darilek have slowly disappeared from the San Antonio scene, including Blue Box Bar (now home to Jue Let) and Blessed Bogside, nee Francis Bogside.
In September 2023, the Darilek’s children took over management of the Mahoney Bar Group. According to reporting from the San Antonio Current, the family wanted to preserve their father’s legacy and was concerned with out-of-control spending.
In June, Mahoney filed a civil lawsuit against Hanzo’s LLC, requesting the company share its books. A commenter on the r/sanantonio Reddit thread claiming to be the general manager says the hiatus is related to that case, and Mahoney has reassumed ownership of the concept with plans to reopen after an interior and menu refresh. CultureMap could not confirm the identity of the account.
Hanzo itself has not made any formal announcement about the closure or a future reopening. Requests to both the bar and Mahoney’s legal representation were not returned immediately. We will update this article as the story develops.