Mary Swiger

Mary’s career in the hospitality industry took her from her home state of Michigan all the way to Hawaii — where she spent three years on Oahu and almost 27 on Maui. After nearly three decades in the Aloha State, she moved to San Antonio in 2018 to be closer to her niece. That same year, she briefly returned to Maui to help with a staffing issue at her longtime job at the renowned Lahaina Grill. As luck would have it, Bliss proprietors Mark and Lisa Bliss were visiting Maui at the same time and ended up sitting in Mary’s section.

“I’d always ask, ‘Are you visiting Maui? Where are you from?’ And Mark and Lisa replied ‘San Antonio.’ I said, ‘I know this probably sounds silly, but I live in San Antonio now too.’ And Mark said, ‘Well, when you get back to San Antonio, look me up.’”

As she was accustomed to working in an independently owned, guest-centered restaurant with a close-knit staff, Mary’s transition to working at Bliss was a smooth one. “It felt a lot like home,” she says.

A dog lover who enjoys gardening and working on home improvement projects, Mary echoes Brittany’s sentiments about the Bliss team and work environment: “Mark and Lisa are amazing to work for. They genuinely care about their staff. And the staff definitely takes an ownership in the restaurant. That usually happens when you have a restaurant with a great reputation, a great product and great guests. You want to take ownership of it, because you want to be a part of something like that.”

Marcy Fernandez

Born and raised in San Antonio, Marcy Fernandez cut her teeth as a teen working in River Walk restaurants and — remarkably — transitioned into management at the ripe old age of 19.

During her 20s, Marcy relocated to Atlanta, where she continued managing restaurants and studied photography on the side. “I visited Atlanta and loved it, so I just decided to stay and make my own life there,” Marcy explains. “I pretty much grew up in Atlanta because my adulthood didn’t actually start until I moved there.”

Returning to San Antonio in her 40s, Marcy reconnected with her longtime friend Lico Rios, who told her about his upcoming job at a modern American restaurant that was about to open in Southtown. “That’s how I first heard about Bliss,” she recalls. “Fortunately, they were happy to have me come on board too — and the rest is history.”

Since joining the Bliss team as a server on day one (February 9, 2012), Marcy has won the hearts of many regulars with her infectious smile and playful sense of humor. A testament to her early management experience, she’s also filled in as Maître d’Hôtel on a number of occasions — making her an ideal fit for her new position as front of house co-manager.

In her current role, Marcy will be tag teaming with fellow front of house co-manager Mary Swiger and serving during dinner service every other week. Describing this balancing act, Marcy says, “It’s been great, because when I cross over into management, I can lead my co-workers a little more. And when I’m waiting tables, I can relax and just enjoy the guests.”

When quizzed about her favorite aspects of Bliss, Marcy doesn’t hesitate: “Number one are honestly Mark and Lisa Bliss. They’ve done so much for me. Number two are the guests. I have so many regulars, and I get to meet people from all over the country — and all over the world. It makes me feel alive. I love people, and I think that’s why I’m a good fit for this industry.”

When she’s off the clock, Marcy enjoys hitting the road to enjoy the great outdoors with her partner of seven years. “Amy and I love to travel, we love to fish, and we’ll rent a cabin pretty much anywhere.” She also loves a celebratory meal at Bliss and counts the hamachi sashimi tostadas, Georges Bank sea scallops, duck and foie gras entree, and butter cake among her all-time favorites. “Those are my favorite dishes … but I honestly love everything on the menu.”