Mark Schaberg is living proof that you can go home again.

After 18 years spent earning a degree and priceless experience in Austin, Schaberg is building a successful new life in the entertainment business in Corpus Christi as the general manager of The Old Concrete Street Amphitheater and a partner in both Brewster Street Icehouse and The Courtyard at Gaslight Square.

Raised in Corpus Christi, Schaberg graduated from King High School in 1984 and headed for the bright lights of Austin. While attending the University of Texas, Schaberg was a musician playing with Bob Popular, a cover band that paved its own way by selling T-shirts bragging, “I partied with Bob Popular.” By the time the band started playing at a local club, it already had a fan base.

“I was on the six-year musician plan, so I graduated from UT in 1990,” says Schaberg.

After graduation, he opted to leave the band. He’d been the one to line up gigs, so Schaberg parlayed that experience into a new company, Popular Talent, and a career as a booking agent.

Schaberg had worked with John Dickson and MusicFest as part of Bob Popular and from 1990 to 1996, continued that relationship by helping book bands for Austin events. Eventually, they formed Popular Productions. In 1998, Schaberg took on the redevelopment of Toulouse, one of the clubs he’d played in as part of the band. Renamed, Bob Popular’s opened on 6th Street to great success.

By 2002, Schaberg was ready for a new challenge, when a call came from Dusty Durrill, founder of Durrill Properties and owner of the Old Concrete Street Amphitheater.

“Concrete Street was the first opportunity to put all my experiences under one roof,” remembers Schaberg.

Durrill says he had “a gut feeling about Mark. He’s a modest guy, who doesn’t oversell. In (entertainment promotion) you meet a lot of horn blowers. He was low key, stable and sincere.

“He just came in and started managing. He’s done an outstanding job. He’s taken on the competition—American Bank Center and Whataburger Field. He has to know what band will sell. He has to be able to read the market and then get a crowd to come and hear the band.”

Being a smaller city, it’s not easy to book acts for Corpus Christi, says Durrill.

“The only big name bands that will come are ones that are already playing in San Antonio or Houston,” he says. “It’s a never-ending challenge to get it to work. I’ve been real proud of him. Mark’s a refreshing person to deal with. He does what he says he’ll do.”

Opening in June 2006, Brewster Street Icehouse was Schaberg’s next project.

“When I moved here in ‘02, the neighborhood around Concrete Street was less than desirable. Then, when American Bank Center was built and Whataburger Field opened in 2004, it was a good opportunity to open a place for people to go before and after a ballgame or a concert,” Schaberg says. “Bill Durrill owned the old Union Pacific building and we took about two years to decide what to do. Bill had three kids under 8 at the time and he wanted a playground. It turned out to be a great asset.”

Eric Gutschow, the concessionaire at Concrete Street, is a third partner in Brewster Street.

Only one block from Whataburger Field and close to the American Bank Center and Concrete Street Amphitheater puts Brewster Street in a great location, but it’s become a destination on its own as well for its casual, family-friendly atmosphere and food. Live music and 14 televisions are a draw for sports and music fans.

“It’s been such a success; we’re still trying to figure out what happened,” says Schaberg. “We’re very fortunate. It could be the start of other opportunities in this part of town. Hopefully, this area could be a place for a hotel, other restaurants and retail.”

As if Concrete Street and Brewster Street aren’t enough to keep Schaberg busy, in 2008, he and his partners opened The Courtyard at Gaslight Square. A special events facility, The Courtyard offers three rooms—Gaslight Room, Plaza Room and The Courtyard—able to accommodate parties, weddings, reunions and any other type of celebration for up to 500 guests.

Schaberg loves giving people a place to kick back and enjoy themselves.

“Whichever venue they go to, we get the chance to let people escape their troubles and have a good time,” he says. “It’s not the same rush as being on stage, but I always go into the crowd at Concrete Street to remember what it felt like and now I have the added satisfaction of knowing that we are entertaining people.”

For Schaberg, lots of long, late hours are the greatest challenge. “I have a wife and daughter, but my wife knew me in Austin, so she knew what to expect. I try to balance the work with family by taking advantage of the slower times. Sundays and Mondays are for family,” he says. “As general manager of Concrete Street, my job is to always think about what could go wrong and make sure we’re ready for it.

“I try not to let that bleed over into my personal life. There are nine full-time managers at Concrete Street and we have weekly meetings to make sure they’re prepared.”

Schaberg’s ability to anticipate problems before they happen makes him a good fit for the job.

“When we are getting ready for a show, I have already seen it in my mind, from the parking lot to the stage,” he says. “I’ve rehearsed the whole event in my head many times. We have a strong team that works together. It’s like being the quarterback in a championship game every time.”

Concrete Street is Schaberg’s primary responsibility, but he also books the entertainment for Brewster Street.

“We also do all the marketing for Brewster Street and Concrete Street out of the same office to be more efficient,” he says. “Brewster is very promotions focused. There’s something new going on all the time. It would be too much for a typical restaurant manager.”

Those who think they’d like a career as a promoter should start small and understand that “there are some hard lessons to learn, like when you’re standing in the parking lot and wondering how to pay the band,” Schaberg reminisces. “But find an act you like and then put on a show. Learn it from the grassroots up. There’s no better lesson than doing it all.”

The future is looking good for Schaberg. “I’ve been blessed to be working with the Durrills. They’ve given me what I need to do the job,” he says. “I’m encouraged by what’s going on in Corpus Christi. I think if you took a birds-eye view of this area now and again in five to 10 years, you will see an entertainment district that will bring people from Houston, San Antonio and beyond.”

“The area has such intrinsic attraction. I hope to still be here in 10 years and Brewster Street will be the old club that started it all.”