The Weston Site: 1930 Forward
The stock market crash and later World War II had a severely dampening effect on all downtown development and minimal construction took place until mid-century when the first National Bank of Commerce building (now the Crowne Plaza Hotel) was built at a cost of $5.5 million, opening its doors to the public in 1958.

The Weston Centre site itself consisted of two blocks (north and south) until they were rejoined in the early 1980s, as NBC began to acquire land south of its original building and north of the Milam Building for its new headquarters. The structures that remained, including the Milam Garage, were demolished in 1987, when construction began on the 550,000 square foot building to be known as NBC Plaza.

The bank planned to occupy 175,000 square feet. The building and adjacent garages were completed in 1988 at a cost of $80.9 million, at the time the most expensive commercial project San Antonio had ever seen.

When the economic downturn began in the late 1980s, it hit hard and NBC was among the casualties. The project lenders foreclosed on the building and it was bought by the Westons in December of 1992 and renamed Weston Centre. The Weston family has committed to maintaining the building’s quality and continuously improving its offerings.

River Pavilion Expansion
Currently, Weston Centre is embarking on a massive exterior expansion with the construction of a glassed-in entertainment area that will make full use of the property’s 300-plus feet of frontage along the world-famous River Walk. Its River Pavilion will offer one-of-a-kind special event space in the center of downtown San Antonio, adding to the city’s already extensive downtown entertainment facilities.

• Commitment to Local Management
• Technology Always a Priority
• The Early Days: 1900-1930

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