While chock-full of beloved, longstanding eateries, particularly a haven for Asian eateries, many of the buildings lining the sides of Harry Wurzbach Road are past their prime. But one stable community in this culinary landscape is at the center of a major facelift following a series of ownership changes that are shaking up the Northeast Side.
Driving along the eastern edge of Terrell Hills and Willshire Terrace in San Antonio can be a bit jarring for those familiar with the swanky homes of the latter, or for those who have traveled beyond the boundaries of Alamo Heights. Aging infrastructure spanning varying income brackets has created an investment limbo in the area. But one developer has acquired the Koreana building and neighboring storefronts, and is bringing them into the modern age.
“It’s a facelift, but it’s going to look very modern,” Kevin Estajlou, the real estate investor reworking the buildings housing Koreana and upwards of nine other commercial units, told MySA. “It’s going to come together pretty quick here soon.”
An aging shopping center housing a beloved, decades-old restaurant staple is undergoing a major facelift. (Zachary-Taylor Wright/MySA)
While it is still a construction site (and yes, Koreana is still open), the transformation is well underway. It was once a dingy, dark, single-story, L-shaped building that wrapped around the beloved Korean restaurant, a San Antonio staple since the mid-90s. But floor-to-ceiling storefront windows, rooftop expansions and a bright new off-white finish all lend to the vision of modernity and a brighter look described by Estajilou.
In a conversation with the developer, who says he regularly buys aging shopping centers to revitalize them, he was clear that Koreana would remain – a point the relatively new owner of the Korean mainstay, Mira Kim, was sure to tell MySA. As for the rest of the buildings, it’s still up in the air.
There are visions of a medical lease, a nail shop, a grab-and-go food service and general retail. But Estajilou said it really comes down to the first tenant, as that will inspire what goes next door. He also hopes that multiple hopefuls will apply for lease contracts once the construction wraps up in the coming weeks.
“You just have to see who’s coming and pick the best for your area and for your location and go from there – make sure everything matches and serves the community,” Estajlou said.
This article originally published at Iconic San Antonio spot at center of massive retail facelift.