SAN ANTONIO — Aaron Peña was spinning Tejano and oldies on a recent Sunday during the "Fajita Lounge" at the Squeezebox on San Antonio’s North St. Mary’s Strip.
The Fajita Lounge comprises tios (uncles) — Peña, Jake Gonzales and Matt Garcia — throwing down Tex-Mex barbecue and giving it away.
Peña owns “world famous” Squeezebox, a dive bar that’s home to hip-hop, Tejano and oldies.
Acts like Sunny Ozone, LA 45, Flaco Jimenez and Durand Jones have performed or had a drink inside the Squeezebox.
“It’s like — whoa! — you see somebody’s tia dancing with some young 21-year-old,” Peña said.
After seven years, the Squeezebox is closing its doors. Peña says it couldn’t outlast the loss of business because of neighboring construction.
“Even more so, just recently over the last year looking at that, how that was upwards of $120,000 for just one year,” Peña said.
The project is finally finished, but for Peña, it’s too late.
Some businesses citywide are in similar circumstances, despite the city handing out $30,000 in construction grants and changing policies.
Two San Antonio City Council members want to set up a permanent construction grant fund to help businesses affected by city construction projects.
John Michael Villanueva, who is part owner of Midnight Swim and Vibras, says small businesses like Squeezebox are vital to communities. It’s where he used to DJ at before becoming a business owner.
“I learned how to treat people, how to read a room. I leaned a lot from Aaron and them,” Villanueva said.
It was a launching pad for Peña himself, who opened up the cocktail spot, Amor Eterno.
“Which is why it was so gratifying to hear people say it was their launchpad because of this old flower shop on North St. Mary’s,” Peña said.
Peña said he learned how to network, how to handle the media and handle major construction in front of his business. Peña is planning to open a rock ‘n’ roll bar called Gimme Gimme, and a modern neighborhood wine bar called A Perfect Day. Hey says he’ll carry the lessons learned at Squeezebox to his next venture.
“Everything I’ve done here has been a learning lesson for my endeavors,” Peña said.