Lockout notice closes Brick at Blue Star as unpaid rent and tax disputes escalate downtown pressure

A downtown arts-district venue is closed after a landlord-issued lockout notice

Brick at Blue Star, a live-events venue that opened in 2014 in San Antonio’s Blue Star Arts Complex, has closed after its owner confirmed receiving a lockout notice from the landlord on Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. A message posted at the venue stated it was “closed until further notice.”

The closure follows weeks of intensified scrutiny over the venue’s finances, including a public wage dispute with former employees and documented tax liabilities tied to Bexar County records.

What is known about the financial issues behind the closure

The owner attributed the lockout to unpaid rent and described the situation as the cumulative result of revenue losses since the COVID-19 pandemic, with debts building over time. The owner also said the venue would remain locked out until the rent situation is resolved.

Separately from rent, county filings and tax assessment documentation indicate two layers of outstanding tax issues:

• A lawsuit filed by Bexar County on Oct. 29, 2025, alleged Brick at Blue Star owed $10,998.70 in combined county, city, and school district taxes at that time.
• A more recent Bexar County tax assessment reviewed by the owner listed more than $18,000 in taxes owed; the owner said the amount would be disputed by April 15, 2026.

The venue’s immediate operating outlook remains uncertain, with the owner indicating that reopening would depend on securing sufficient funds or a new financial backer.

Wage allegations, a boycott call, and a documented payment resolution

In January 2026, a group of former employees publicly alleged the venue owed them more than $6,000 in unpaid wages tied to the period from June through September 2025. The owner disputed the size of that total but acknowledged responsibility for falling behind on payments.

On Feb. 11, 2026, the former employees announced that the outstanding wages had been paid. The owner also confirmed the wage issue had been settled, separating that resolution from the rent dispute that led to the lockout notice.

Why the closure matters for the Blue Star corridor

Brick at Blue Star has been used as a performance and gathering space within the Southtown arts district, including during high-traffic cultural programming. Its sudden closure adds to concerns that smaller venues—often dependent on event cycles, bar revenue, and tight operating margins—can face rapid disruptions when rent, payroll timing, and tax obligations collide.

Brick at Blue Star is located at 108 Blue Star, San Antonio, TX 78204.

As of Feb. 19, 2026, no reopening timeline had been confirmed publicly, and the venue remained closed.