South Flores is an area of San Antonio that is referred to by some as SoFlo. It is a part of the city's Central Loop that also includes areas like SoSo (South of Downtown), NoDo (North of Downtown) and Southtown.
South Flores literally encompasses the street it is named after – South Flores. The boundaries surround South Flores Street from Durango to Cevallos streets.
South Flores is an emerging district, an area that has long been in the shadows of its nearby neighbor Southtown. While Southtown had all the retail and art spaces, South Flores had a lot of warehouse space that went unutilized. Since the early 1900s, South Flores was dotted with industrial spaces where pickle factories and packaging plants once stood were now empty, but with lots of potential.
In the early 2000s, several local investors saw potential in the area, particularly with the success of Southtown. Heavy investment and construction soon began with much success that is still continuing to this day.
Second Saturday: Nearby Southtown has First Friday, a grand party held in the area on the first Friday of each month where people come from all over the city to take in the districts art assemblies and enjoy a beer at Blue Star Brewery.
Because of the enormous popularity, First Friday attracts crowds that can reach over 5,000 making it hard to find parking or to enjoy yourself. In response, several galleries in South Flores Arts District now hold Second Saturday where the crowds are much smaller, the noise level much tolerable and the parking much easier to find.
South Flores is not a very large area, and is being converted mostly to office and gallery space. However, there are several abandoned buildings that are being turned into well-priced apartments and lofts that are very affordable. With most buildings starting at just $95-125 per square foot, new buildings fill up quickly, with half the spaces generally being taken before construction is even finished.
ONE9ZERO6 Gallery is uniquely named for its address (1906 S. Flores). The art gallery displays pieces ranging from acrylics and oils to watercolors and pastels. ONE9ZERO6 primarily exhibits the artwork of contemporary and international artists.
Next door is its sister space, Salon Mijangos which has a more simple European aesthetic to it, though the owner is known to not have regular gallery hours.
The Alamo Architects/OCO building took an abandoned SoFlo building and turned it into their headquarters. Not only does this bring much-needed commerce to the area but the building also teaches lessons about reusing and recycling materials.
Panels and concrete from the old building were used in a scenic garden while windows were placed in such a way as to limit the need for light bulbs during the day. The building is registered with the U.S. Green Building Council and is a testament to the potential of the South Flores area.
Joe Lopez’s Gallista Gallery is across the street from ONE9ZERO6 and Salon Mijangos and has eclectic music along with artist's lofts in the back behind the main building. This is a staple of the area and has been there much longer than the newer galleries and lofts that are springing up in the area.