Last week, The City of San Antonio Historic and Design Review Commission (HDRC) approved designs for the historic Kusch House in the Hemisfair district to be turned into a Chinese restaurant called Kusch Faire.

The renovation is part of a $750,000 grant from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation, which will also be adding a backyard patio, fencing, and accessibility ramps to the property.

History of a house

Stonemason John Kusch Sr. built the Folk Victorian-style house in 1965 for him and his wife, in the Hemisfair district The couple lived there together until 1968, when it turned into a Mexican restaurant called La Fonda Santa Anita in 1968, according to the Conservation Society of San Antonio. Since then, the building has fallen by the wayside — until now.

A rendering shows the aerial view of the courtyard of the Kusch House renovations at Hemisfair. | Credit: Courtesy / Hemisfair and Candid Works Architecture

Future of a house

Kusch Faire is brought to us by local restaurant entrepreneur, Kristina Zhao — who also founded Sichuan House. The renovated restaurant will feature dishes from her other restaurants, as well as unique offerings just for Kusch Faire. Grab-and-go options will also be available, along with bodega items from the Zhao family’s Asian Market.

Construction will tentatively begin later this fall, with completion set for summer of 2024. Kusch Faire joins the ranks of multiple eateries finding homes in renovated historic buildings — like Paleteria San Antonio in the 1883 Pereida House, Commonwealth Coffee House & Bakery in the Koehler House, Dough Pizzeria in the OK Bar Building, as well as others coming soon.