The concept came to Chef Jason Dady more than a decade ago.
Inside his restaurant office at The Lodge at Castle Hills, Dady imagined an immersive dining and entertainment experience. A sprawl of eateries, a coffee shop, a stage for live music. It would be a must-visit destination blending the culture of San Antonio with the flavors of Mexico.
Dady scribbled the vision on a page in his journal. Over the next decade, he opened and closed a succession of popular restaurants, including The Lodge, appeared on televised cooking competitions, earned a James Beard nod and cemented himself as a premier chef in San Antonio.
As time passed, the concept faded and was all but forgotten. But four years ago, an opportunity arose. Dady went back to his journal. He reviewed the vision and proceeded to implement the details, Dady claims, “to a T.”
Sometime between the end of March and Easter Sunday, hopefully on April 1, Dady says, his original concept will unfold at the Shops at Rivercenter. Its name is Mexico Ceaty, a play on words that recognizes “eating” as ritual and storytelling in the capital city south of the border.
“It’s transformative, modern, approachable, affordable,” Dady said. “It’s going to truly change the way malls look at food courts across the country.”
Mexico Ceaty will be a culinary adventure, 24,000 square feet of food and drink overlooking the turnaround of boats on the River Walk. As Dady explained to the San Antonio Report in June, the emporium will include a Tex-Mex restaurant, Tres Arcos, a 300-seat bar, Dos Cantinas, a street taco cart, a stall serving burritos and tortas and kiosks selling ceviches, campechanas and aguachile.
There will be a bakery and coffee shop, Dulce Aroma, a speakeasy bar and mezcal tasting room, El Ultimo, and a mercado featuring cookbooks, salsas, moles and gifts.
In sum, Dady is creating a massive, gotta-see-it-to-believe-it destination for South Texas and South of the Border fare.
“Mexico Ceaty opens a new chapter for the San Antonio River Walk, enhancing the experience and attracting new energy,” said Visit San Antonio CEO Mario Bass. “It celebrates the deep cultural and historical connection between San Antonio and Mexico through its Tex-Mex cuisine and reflects our city’s identity, where culture, heritage and innovation merge in meaningful ways.”
In June, Dady anticipated a November launch for Mexico Ceaty. Construction delays and other issues pushed the timeline back to spring.
“With a project of this magnitude, you can’t rush it,” Dady said. “You’ve got to do it right. We’re taking the time to get it right.”
The River Walk needs an injection of business. Foot traffic and sales have slumped. David Strange, a managing partner for River Walk restaurant Casa Catrina, told the San Antonio Report in November, “I’ve been here for 15 years. It’s never been worse.”
From the first floor of the Shops at Rivercenter, Mexico Ceaty intends to flex culinary muscle and revitalize business.
“It’s going to be a driving force to bring people to the River Walk and to the Rivercenter Mall for sure,” Dady said. “It’s designed to have multitudes enjoy a dining experience with a large retail component of shops.”
Dady expects a surge of traffic during the city’s annual Fiesta celebration, April 16-26, much of it from guests after the parades and visitors from Night in Old San Antonio.
“It’s going to be a fun, very popular hangout for Fiesta,” he said.
The concept provides a range of food and drink options, from affordable snacks (Mexican candies and churros) to more expensive fare (steak and tequila).
What is the inspiration behind Mexico Ceaty? A long ago culinary trip Dady took to New York City. After sampling elevated food and drink in the Big Apple, he returned to his small office in Castle Hills and began writing in his journal.
“Honestly, I never knew in my wildest dreams that this would ever come to fruition,” Dady said. “When I look back, I think the Rivercenter Mall is the only place in San Antonio this concept works. It’s the perfect space and the perfect location. It’s the heartbeat of the River Walk. I feel very, very lucky and blessed.”
