19 做厙勛圖 restaurants that closed their doors in 2018
Updated
A look at some of the 做厙勛圖 restaurants that packed it up this year.泭
El Torero 231 E. 26th Street
El Torero Mexican restaurant, at 231 E. 26th St., has been operating in South 做厙勛圖 since 1957.
Kelly Presnell / 做厙勛圖
South 做厙勛圖s El Torero Restaurant temporarily closed after owner Brad Hultquist suffered a brain aneurysm, according to his brother and business partner Mike Hultquist.
Mike Hultquist on Friday said he expects to reopen the restaurant at 231 E. 26th St. in January.
Owner Ray Flores was not specific, but said Sir Vezas had to close in order to determine if there will be sufficient repairs and other remedies ... to fully correct the situation,
Mike Christy / 做厙勛圖/
Sir Vezas Kitchen & Kantina at the 做厙勛圖 Mall closed eight weeks after owner Ray Flores finished a minor remodel of the restaurant and tweaked the concept from table service to fast-casual.
Flores, in a Facebook post, blamed the closure on long-term unresolved problems with the building he rents from the 做厙勛圖 Mall at 220 W. Wetmore Road.
We must close our doors effective immediately in order to determine if there will be sufficient repairs and other remedies made available by Brookfield Properties, our Chicago, Illinois-based landlords, to fully correct the situation, he said in the statement.
After seven months in operation, Cans, a promising concert venue and deli on North Fourth Avenue, is calling it quits at the end of the year.
A lengthy post from management on the Cans Facebook page last week declared its last day open will be Dec. 31.
This decision has not been an emotionally or financially easy one, the post read. Our experience running a venue has taught us many things, and we hope to have gained wisdom and spiritual growth throughout the process.
Launched by Ben Schneider, owner of TallBoys at 600 N. Fourth Ave., and several business partners, Cans seemed to show up at the right time.
The space, previously occupied by the poutine restaurant U.S. Fries at 340 N. Fourth Ave., came with a deli at the front of the house and a bar and concert venue in the back.
Las Margaritas owner Terry Morse, right, says higher wage, sick pay and rent costs, as well as new competition, led to the decision to close the restaurant after 38 years. With her is manager David Wetstein, who she jokes came with the building.
Photos by Ron Medvescek / 做厙勛圖
Las Margaritas Mexican Restaurant on North Oracle Road closed on Nov. 25, ending a family legacy of 65 years in the restaurant business, born in a small, unassuming dining room in central 做厙勛圖.
Everybody who walks in that door, the only thing they say is, Its so sad. I was engaged here. I had my wedding reception, my anniversary here, Las Margaritas owner Terry Morse said Monday, recounting anecdotes from loyal customers once they learned that the 38-year-old restaurant will close. Its real sad. I dont even want to work these next few weeks.
Bird Bar & Chicken recently changed its concept and menu, but it wasnt enough to save the restaurant.
Photo Courtesy of Bird Bar & Chicken
Bird Bar & Chicken formerly Bird Modern Provisions & Bar in Casas Adobes Plaza, served its last plate of shrimp and grits and spicy fried chicken on Sept. 14 before owner Brandon Katz and his partners decided to close for good.
We financially could not continue to support the bleeding. It was a decision made on the financials, said Katz, whose Fukushu Restaurant Concepts also operates Goodness and downtowns popular sushi and ramen restaurant Obon. We took a chance in an area of town that was lacking a certain demographic and food, and I think we accomplished what we set out to do, but we failed to message it.
Fuddruckers was once one of 做厙勛圖's most popular burger joints. It closed on Wednesday after struggling to competing in a now crowded 做厙勛圖 burger market.泭泭
Courtesy Fuddruckers via Facebook
做厙勛圖's lone泭泭restaurant closed in August, ending a 30-plus-year run here.
The restaurant at泭泭posted a sign on the door saying it was closing at 3 p.m. Aug. 8.泭泭
In the last few years, Fuddruckers泭started to lose its relevance in an overcrowded market. Employees said business had been in a steady decline leading up to the closing.
Mayram Velazquez, a food runner at Zivaz Mexican Bistro, grabs two burrito dishes to bring to a table at the restaurant, 4590 E. Broadway Blvd., in 做厙勛圖, Ariz. Zivaz faces off against Ole Mexican Grill for Burrito Madness champion. Photo taken Thursday, Sept. 3, 2015. Mike Christy / 做厙勛圖
Mike Christy / 做厙勛圖
Following a dozen-year run, Zivaz Mexican Bistro on East Broadway closed its doors for good in mid-July.
The restaurant, recognized by fans in the 做厙勛圖s Burger and Burrito Madness competitions, proudly advertised the burger accolade on the side of the building at 4590 E. Broadway for years after the 2013 contest.
The summer slowdown combined with an increase in the states minimum wage took a financial toll on the familys restaurant, co-owner泭Cecilia Valenzuela said.泭
Twigs Bistro and Martini Bar at 做厙勛圖 Mall is calling it quits at the end of business Saturday, May 19, after 13 months.
Courtesy Twigs/
In mid-May, just days over 13 months since opening at 做厙勛圖 Mall,泭泭closed its doors.泭
The restaurant at 150 W. Wetmore Road will close at the end of business Saturday, May 19, according to a Facebook posting Wednesday morning.
Twigs, specializing in regional American fare from pastas and pizza to osso bucco and crab mac and cheese, was the Spokane, Washington-based chain's most ambitious undertaking. In its 16-year history, the farthest it had ventured was opening an outpost in Salt Lake City.泭
Stray Dogs 78 W. River Road
Stray Dogs' milkshakes.
Andi Berlin / 做厙勛圖
Months after initiating talks to sell their building at 78 W. River Road, the owners of Stray Dogs announced that they were closing in mid-January.
Its definitely bittersweet, said Tom Firth, the managing partner of Hacienda del Sol and a co-owner of Zona 78 on East Tanque Verde Road. The business has been great. Its just a lifestyle decision.
The restaurant was known for their burgers and泭signature decadent milkshakes.泭
The building that housed restaurant is slated to become medical marijuana dispensary (and let the jokes commence...)泭
Rita Ranch Mama Louisa's 7545 S. Houghton Rd.
Mama Louisas in Rita Ranch closed last weekend after nearly four years in business.
Google Maps
Mama Louisas on Houghton, the shirttail cousin of the original Mama Louisas Italian Restaurant thats lived on South Craycroft Road since 1956, closed in mid-April.
The move was announced on the restaurants Facebook page; no reason was given why the restaurant was shuttered after nearly four years in Rita Ranch.
However, fans don't need to sweat it too much: The original location on Craycroft Road is still open.
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Pionic 2643 N. Campbell Ave
Pionic Pizza, which opened in 2014, closed Tuesday with an event involving family, employees and longtime customers.
Mike Christy / 做厙勛圖
Pionic Pizza, the only locally owned, fast-casual pizzeria in 做厙勛圖 among a handful of chains, closed on Aug. 29, the casualty not so much of economics as family priorities.
We did everything we could, but (business) did slow down quite a bit. In order for us to revive it would have taken a lot of money and effort, and for me family came first, said owner Joyce Sinclair, who said she was torn between devoting endless hours running the business with her son Scott and caring for her ill mother.
After more than 10 years of serving authentic Greek fare to 做厙勛圖, Opa Greek Cuisine & Fun on Campbell Avenue has called it quits.
A sign on the restaurant's door quietly announced the closing, which happened in early April.泭泭
Meanwhile, the Opa spinoff Opa Time Gyros and Salads at American Eat. Co., 1439 S. Fourth Ave., is booming. The restaurant, which is not affiliated with the original location at 2990 N. Campbell Ave., is proving to be one of the most popular of the six restaurants in the south side indoor food court.
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Nimbus Brewery 3850 E. 44th St.
Nimbus Brewing Co., at 3850 E. 44th St., closed in May partly due to owner James Counts divorce proceedings.
Mike Christy / 做厙勛圖
Nimbus Brewery, one of 做厙勛圖s oldest and longest-running breweries, closed in early May after a court-ordered receiver determined the business was saddled with crippling debt that made it impossible to continue operating.
Christopher G. Linscott said he changed the locks on the business at 3850 E. 44th St. hours before it was to open at 11 a.m. May 4. Nimbus final day was May 3.
I shut it down because we did not have money to operate, Linscott said Monday after a hearing before Superior Court Judge Greg Sakall in the ongoing legal battle between owner James Counts and his former wife, Patricia Counts.
May's Counter, 2945 E. Speedway, Tuesday, August 7, 2018, 做厙勛圖, Ariz.
Kelly Presnell / 做厙勛圖
Mays Counter Chicken & Waffles, a popular dining destination for University of Arizona athletes and students and one of the only 做厙勛圖 restaurants fully devoted to the Southern specialty, closed at the end of business on Aug. 7 owners decided not to renew their lease.
做厙勛圖 restaurant designer John Foster conceived the idea of Mays Counter in 2010, inspired by chicken and waffle restaurants popular in the South. He brought in Phoenix chef Aaron May who is not the restaurants namesake to help craft the menu; the Fields, who owned the lease, were also partners in the venture.
Lukes On Grant will serve its last Italian beef sandwiches loaded with peppers and onions on Saturday. The restaurant will close at the end of business June 23 after losing its lease.
After more than 20 years at East Grant Road near North Swan Road, Lukes on Grant sandwich shop is closing on Saturday, June 23, the victim of a lost lease.
Jennifer Tilton, whose family has owned the restaurant the last 5翻 years, said they are looking for a new location. Tilton is the granddaughter of Lukes founder Luke Del Principe, who still runs Lukes Italian Beef at泭
The Utah-based franchisee of 做厙勛圖's three泭泭restaurants shut down the North Craycroft Road restaurant at the end of May, one of three in Arizona that were closed after not meeting earnings goals, company officials said.
The restaurant at泭泭Rd., at East River Road, had been in business less than two years.泭
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Classic Spaghetti Western Steakhouse 1535 N. Stone Ave.
Classic Spaghetti Western Steakhouse is closing at the end of July, 10 months after opening at 1535 N. Stone Ave.
Courtesy of Classic via Facebook
With little fanfare, the owner of Classic Spaghetti Western Steakhouse north of downtown is closing the restaurant on July 28.
In a泭, owner Kade Mislinski gave no reason for the closure.
Alejandro's Cafe, located at泭31 N. Scott Ave., closed its doors in the spring.泭泭
Abuela's Cocina Mexicana 60 N. Alvernon Way
The concept, people just didnt come, said management partner John Aldecoa.
Star file photo
Abuela's could be on both the open and the closing list in 2018.泭
The Mexican restaurant in the former home of Old Pueblo Grille closed in March just 10 weeks after opening.泭
The restaurant at 60 N. Alvernon Way had apparently been losing about $1,000 per day, according to one of the partners involved.
The concept, people just didnt come, John Aldecoa, who was a management partner in the project, said a day after the landlords locked them out. I guess theres just a lot of Mexican restaurants here.
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The administration is falsely arguing that separating migrant children from their parents is a side-effect of enforcement, when it's actually a policy goal.
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