Arts Alive San Antonio

By BERIT MASON

A long line of concertgoers stood outside of The ESPEE entertainment complex on a sultry September night recently – exactly what the new owners hoped to see. Wearing gold chains and outfits straight out of the 1990s, they were there to see “I love the 90s” concert at San Antonio’s newest outdoor entertainment venue.

Director of Marketing Adam Fleming explained that the former Sunset Station train depot was completely renovated before opening this spring as a new prime location, hosting arts events of every kind.

“Anything in the performing arts, especially music, is likely to take place here,” he said. “We also do a lot of community gatherings. We did some events around Fiesta, we did one with the AIDS Foundation, and one with SAAACAM, the San Antonio African-American Community Archive and Museum.”

The 90s concert drew lots of Gen Xers, the age group born circa 1960-1980. A couple we talked to said they ordered their “wild and crazy” outfits online. And they were impressed by how much the Sunset Station has been transformed.

“My wife and I used to come here, maybe, twenty years ago,” said the man. We enjoyed it so much. The venue on the inside was beautiful; they had multiple floors. But outside – the ESPEE! I am loving it!”

The star of this particular concert was Vanilla Ice but a number of other groups participated, including All 4 One, Color Me Bad, Rob Basse, Young MC and a few others. Hip-hop artist Young MC – now 56 – opened the show, exhorting the audience to go wild in the traditional rap manner, waving his arms about while holding the mic. He was clad in the traditional high-end sneakers and baggy pants.

The venue can accommodate some 3,100 concert-goers. It’s welcoming to all, and there’s no chance of crime as security is tight. Inside and out, the ESPEE is a clean and hospitable place. It is owned and operated by the Ambassador Theater Group that also operates the iconic Majestic and Empire Theaters in the heart of downtown.

Long before Vanilla Ice or any other rap star, San Antonio’s downtown train station at St. Paul Square had already undergone many changes since it was built in 1902.

Rolling through the historic Southern Pacific Railroad Station was The Southern Pacific Railroad’s Sunset Limited Train Route, connecting passengers to California, Missouri, Louisiana, and beyond. Later, it was transformed into “Sunset Station,” designed by architect Daniel J. Patterson and added to the list of the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. In 1998, Amtrak moved to a smaller depot built adjacent, while under new owners, VIA Metropolitan Transit. Sunset Station was renovated to become an entertainment complex, with the mighty Alamodome as its next-door neighbor.

St. Paul Square is just east of downtown at 1174 East Commerce St. This historic business district was named after St. Paul Methodist Episcopal Church, built in the 1870s. The square developed when the railroad came to town, with the construction of the beautifully ornate train station depot in its Mission Revival style. But when IH-37 came along, the highway cut off traffic, so in the 1960s, St. Paul Square declined.

But today, things are different. In 2019, the Ambassador Theater Group, that also operates the Majestic and Empire Theaters downtown, saw the Sunset Station complex and realized its potential. With 20,000 sq. ft. of prime real estate, the place offered both indoor and outdoor spaces, which meant that several events could go on at once. So, the ATG leased the building and gussied it up, creating the multi-purpose “Espee”, to host art shows, concerts and private parties.

Outdoors are spacious grounds and the expansive pavilion with its large performance stage, while indoors, the newly renovated Depot 2, 3 and 4, are available for rent. These places can accommodate fairly large groups.

“We have people rent a place for anything you can think of – a quinceanera, graduation party, all kinds of stuff, “said Fleming.

But why call it “Espee”?

The name comes from “Southern Pacific Railroad. Using the initials “S” and “P,” ATG created the name “Espee.”

The reincarnation of Sunset Station comes at a perfect time. Downtown San Antonio has been undergoing one of its biggest transformations since Hemisfair 1968. The Hemisfair grounds are recreated as is the Henry B. González Convention Center. As San Antonio grows, it needs more downtown amphitheaters and entertainment spaces for an increasingly active population. The Espee fills that bill.

“It gives us a very unique location in that whether there is something large happening at the Alamodome, a concert or event; if across the highway at the Convention Center, if there’s something going on there, and they need additional space, our hope is that we will become a staple of downtown San Antonio,” said Fleming. “You see the Texas music legends mural, and the pavilion, and the skyline of downtown is just to your west, and you can see the Tower of the Americas … it is just beautiful. San Antonio deserves to have a place like this.”

The Texas Music Legends Mural stands on the grounds off to the side. This tall, round structure is a very colorful mural made of tiles vividly depicting Texas music greats, like Willie Nelson, Selena, and Buddy Holly. Below are faces of other artists from the Lone Star State, all musicians who came up from humble beginnings to become world famous.

While the Sunset Station hosted many get-togethers, the Espee takes things to a whole new level. With its nine different spaces, visitors may enjoy an art exhibit outside while a private reception may be going on inside, and a band is playing in the pavilion. There are bars, restaurants, food concessions and a VIP Lounge. It is a real party scene, all at one location.

 “With the capacity of 3,175, it’s got the space to be a real hotspot,” said Fleming. “A good energy is building east of downtown, and we are glad to be part of it.”
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Upcoming Events:  Fusion Band “Snarky Puppy,” sponsored by Trinity University’s KRTU on Oct. 6; a concert for children “Rock and Roll Playhouse” on Oct. 22; and a performance by San Antonio native son Christopher Cross on Nov. 3. Parking is a bit of a challenge but it is hoped that the city will eventually add parking in the area as the East Side develops.