A historic San Antonio building once at risk of demolition is reborn as Basila Frocks, revitalizing the west side with support for local artists and businesses.
SAN ANTONIO — A historic building in the heart of San Antonio’s west side is beginning a new chapter after sitting vacant for years.
The nearly 20,000-square-foot building at North Zarzamora Street and West Martin Street, originally built in the 1920s, has reopened as Basila Frocks, a space designed to support small businesses, artists and community gatherings.
Once at risk of demolition, the building has been restored through a partnership between Prosper West San Antonio and the DreamOn Group. The project took about 14 months to complete.
“We have been waiting 14 months. It was worth the wait because it is a beautiful project,” said Janie Villarreal-McClinchie.
Freshly painted walls now showcase historic photographs highlighting the building’s past. Originally used as a dress-making facility, the structure later housed a variety of businesses over the decades, including restaurants, clinics, a wrestling venue and even a jazz club.
After years of vacancy, plans were made to tear the building down. However, community members pushed back.
“This is something that has been restored and brought beauty back to the West Side,” Villarreal-McClinchie said. “It is full of history and culture. The community has truly embraced it, and they are so happy.”
The name Basila Frocks honors the building’s roots. Villarreal-McClinchie said Basila was the last name of the family that built the structure in 1929, while “frocks” references the dresses once made there.
Today, the building features office spaces on the upper level and local shops on the first floor. Villarreal-McClinchie operates Que Retro Arts, a shop filled exclusively with handmade work from local artists.
“Everything you see here is hecho a mano — made by hand,” she said. “We have glass artists. We have papier-mâché artists.”
Also located in the building is Gallery Youngblood Art, owned by Victor Moran, a west-side native.
“For us, having the opportunity to show art that represents the diverse cultures of San Antonio art making, it is a privilege and an honor to show these people work,” he said.
Moran said returning to the neighborhood where he grew up is especially meaningful, and he hopes the project inspires others in the 78207 ZIP code.
“We brought life back to the community,” he said. “Coming back to the community and being able to say that I came from this area, that I succeeded, that people from here can succeed, is important,” he said.
Villarreal-McClinchie said she hopes the building serves as a symbol of what’s possible for the west side.
“That more developers take a chance on the West Side, that more people consider the West Side and not shy away from it,” she said.
Basila Frocks will also host community events. Weekly yoga classes are held on Saturdays, and plans are underway to open a coffee shop in March.