Council denies alcohol-variance request for Castroville Road convenience store near district schools

The City of San Antonio council voted to deny an alcohol-variance request for a convenience store at 270 Castroville Road on Aug. 6, 2026.

City staff described the request as an alcohol variance to allow off‑premise consumption at a convenience store; two school districts and area principals had submitted objections and notices showed mixed neighborhood support and opposition. Applicant representatives and supporters described the store as an important local business and said the owner needs the income. "She's the applicant owner," a translator said of the owner during public comment, explaining the store had been closed for three years and that the reopening was the family's income source (Dua Alarafati, public commenter).

Trustee Stephanie Torres, who said she represents students in the San Antonio Independent School District, urged the council to protect children. "It's for the safety of our kids that are at Jubilee," Torres said during public comment, adding that the store had previously been associated with safety problems near students. Councilman Castillo referenced a decline in calls for service since restrictions were applied historically and moved to deny the variance. "Based on the challenging history of this property ... I request to deny this item," Castillo said; the motion to deny carried by council vote.

The council recorded the denial as the formal outcome; the council did not provide a roll-call tally in the transcript. The denial leaves the property's alcohol status unchanged and councilmembers noted the nearby schools and community safety concerns as the principal reasons for rejecting the variance.