Opening a restaurant is daunting anytime. Opening one during a pandemic is enough to send most people running. Jennifer Dobbertin and Quealy Watson aren’t most people. The longtime culinary partners worked in some of San Antonio’s most innovative kitchens before opening Tenko Ramen at Pearl. Dobbertin, a second-generation Chinese American, took inspiration from her travels and the comfort food of her youth for Best Quality Daughter, their New Asian-American restaurant.

Brasserie Mon Chou Chou is the brainchild of Chef Laurent Réa, Philippe Placé, and Jérôme Sérot—French food lovers who met nearly 20 years ago in San Antonio. The menu highlights the cuisine of their homeland, enriched with fond memories of meals shared with family and friends. Many of the dishes are directly influenced by the trio’s respective grandmothers, as well as the many inspiring cities and diverse regions of France.

High Street Wine Co. opened in 2016 with an emphasis on hospitality and featuring a carefully curated wine selection from Beverage Director and Advanced Sommelier Scott Ota. When the pandemic forced them to close—twice—they quickly pivoted to an online-only platform, including virtual wine classes. Additionally, they developed a program to keep their team employed while serving their community, building in hours with nonprofits into their offerings—the epitome of hospitality first.

Mother-daughter team Nilgun and Ayse Derman have been outfitting people in their one-of-a-kind designs for 25 years. Their modern apparel is made in San Antonio and sold across North America, including their flagship boutique at Pearl. While the pandemic strained many fashion retailers, Niche leaned into another growing market—sewing and crafting. They launched The Stitch at Niche, a curated fabric shop and project space that allows anyone to unleash their creativity.

Feliz Modern POP is centered around the most important thing in life: connection. Connection with friends, family, and community through art, humor, and celebration. That is evident the second you step inside the shop—a colorful assortment of items thoughtfully sourced (or produced) by husband-and-wife team Mario and Ginger Diaz abound. Through the most trying times, the shop not only endured, but also supported local charitable causes, all while remaining “The Home of Happy.”