DEPARTMENT: Office of Historic Preservation
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Shanon Shea Miller
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: District 2
SUBJECT:
Resolution to proceed with landmark designation for 1434 (1432) E. Commerce Street
SUMMARY:
This resolution requests direction from City Council to move forward with historic landmark designation for the property at 1434 (1432) E. Commerce Street. The Historic and Design Review Commission (HDRC) recommended a Finding of Historic Significance for this property on November 5, 2014.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
August L. Reus purchased the property in January 1913. According to the city directories, Reus ran a saloon at this location until Prohibition took effect in 1920, when he switched to selling soft drinks. However, newspaper articles from the 1930s reveal that August Reus' establishment (then addressed as 932 E. Commerce) had long been a successful restaurant, as well. The San Antonio Express noted that, "Reus Buffet is one of the 'institutions' of San Antonio. . . Not only does the establishment enjoy a large patronage from residents of the metropolitan area of the city, but its customers from out of town run to imposing numbers." Reus' son, Arthur, helped run the restaurant, which he eventually took over from his father.
In 1934, August L. Reus purchased the adjacent property at 928 - 930 E. Commerce (Lot 8, Block 3, NCB 598) from the estate of J.A. Hoerster. This building had previously housed grocers (1910s), a bakery (1920s), and furniture manufacturing (1930s). Son Arthur Reus saw the potential for another use and applied for a retail package house liquor license at 930 E. Commerce in 1935. The liquor store became known as the Reus Package House and remained in operation through 1970.
In 1936, father and son remodeled their restaurant to expand the buffet and to include a modern soda fountain. Reus added packing and curing rooms on the back of the caf? for large scale production ...
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