Jacala Restaurant
Why it's listed
This small commercial building on North St. Mary's Street in San Antonio carries an unusual front: a false-front facade made of cement shaped to look like wood. Around 1952 the Quinones family opened their Jacala #3 restaurant here, and the owner felt the existing building was too plain. The facade is clad in cement "boards" about a foot wide, with grained "split logs" around the windows and door, bolt heads along the base, and a gabled portico with a palapa roof held up by two simulated tree trunks. The work is attributed to sculptor Dionicio Rodriguez, and it is one of only two known building facades credited to him. The sides and rear of the building were altered many times by later tenants, including nightclubs, and the building suffered two fires. Over the years layers of paint have hidden some of the original sculptural detail. The property was recognized for its artistic value at the local level, as part of a group of Rodriguez sculptures in Texas.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is significant under Criterion C in the area of Art, at the local level. Its faux bois facade is attributed to sculptor Dionicio Rodriguez and is one of only two known building facades attributed to him. It is nominated under the context of the sculpture of Dionicio Rodriguez in Texas.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 04001168, listed October 22, 2004. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 2702 N. St. Mary's St., San Antonio |
|---|---|
| County | Bexar County |
| Listed | October 22, 2004 |
| Reference number | 04001168 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c.1952 |
| Architect / builder | Dionicio Rodriguez |
| Architectural style | One-Part Commercial Block; Faux bois sculpture |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Art |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Historic function was restaurant; current function is listed as a professional art studio. The faux bois work is in fair condition, with layers of paint concealing some of its sculptural quality. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Monte Vista Residential Historic District |
| Coordinates | 29.45213, -98.48705 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 04001168.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110001608
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.