History behind Rudy’s Hide Away in San Antonio, Texas explored.

Rudy’s Hide Away is one of San Antonio’s lesser known nightclubs. This news article will explain the history and functions of this particular nightclub.  

Rudy’s Hide Away was a nightclub that was owned and operated by Eugene Williams, his brother Fred Douglas Williams, and Lillian A Fields. Although Eugene Williams was the sole proprietor of Rudy’s Hide Away. Rudy’s Hide Away first opened in the East Terrace Homes housing project in 1972 at the location of 2830 East Commerce Street. (Ref: Bexar County Assumed Names Records, Document Number 2517)

Eugene Williams knew he had to become successful, he would always say "it is all about the business." He was a people person, so he took his business knowledge and his love for people and became a self-made entrepreneur. He and his brother, Roosevelt started up a night club called Rudy’s Hideaway on the eastside of San Antonio. He had the privilege of being his own boss. (Ref: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/228805532/eugene-williams)

Rudy’s Hide Away served patrons cold beverages and weekly specials. This nightclub also hosted pool contests where awards were given to whomever earned or won the highest scores. Winners would be given cases of beer as a prize. (Ref: https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth842094/m1/4/)

Rudy’s Hide Away was constantly advertised in the San Antonio Register newspaper back throughout the 1980s. They would run advertisements on Rudy’s Hide Away. (Ref: https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth841723/m1/4/zoom/)

Unfortunately Rudy’s Hide Away would not stay open for long despite constant advertisements in the San Antonio Register. Violence, urban renewal policies, and eminent domain are what led to the decline of Rudy’s Hide Away.

A night of violence would ultimately shut down Rudy’s Hide Away and Rudy’s Hide Away would slowly fade away. On the night of August 28, 1996, 34 year old Jimmy Lee Cunningham collapsed behind the Barbara Jordan Center after arguing with six men at Rudy’s Hide Away. He was running for safety when he was killed. He was shot to death. The men fled the scene. (Ref: https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth841709/m1/1/)

The body of a 34-year-old man was found with a gunshot wound to the back behind the Barbara Jordan Center early Thursday. Jimmie Lee Cunningham collapsed behind the center at 2803 E. Commerce St., after he was shot by one of six assailants, who were chasing him, a witness told police.Cunningham was pronounced dead at 2:05 a.m.Prior to the shooting, Cunningham had argued with the six men at Rudy's Hide Away at 2830 E. Commerce St., police said. The men fled the scene. (Ref: San Antonio Express-News, 34-year-old man found shot to death on East Side, August 30, 1996)

Rudy’s Hide Away would slowly fade away and eventually dissolve after the killing of Jimmy Lee Cunningham. Business dwindled as a result of the killing.

In 1998, San Antonio Housing Authority (SAHA) sent a letter to Eugene Williams notifying him that his property was in the boundaries of the $48.8 million Hope VI project funded by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). HUD’s plan was to revitalize the Springview Apartments/East Terrace Homes and demolish residences around the area as part of their urban renewal project. As part of urban renewal policies, his building had to be demolished.

SAHA stated he was notified the authority "may acquire" his property by right of eminent domain. So Eugene Williams decided to have Rudy’s Hide Away dissolved in 1998 and had sold his property to San Antonio Housing Authority in 1999. Rudy’s Hide Away operated from 1978 to 1999.

Rudy’s Hide Away was located at 2830 East Commerce Street, San Antonio, Texas, US 78203.