Despite a letter posted online to Taco Bueno's customers promising that "local Taco Bueno restaurants are open and eager to serve you," the company has continued closing stores.
Most recently, Taco Bueno closed 20 stores in the month of December, including 14 in North Texas. Four of the local Taco Buenos closed on Dec. 10. Ten more closed on Dec 17.
Chief Marketing Officer Jason Abelkop says in a statement on Dec. 17 the closures are now finished: "We're done closing restaurants and are focused on a bright future for the brand, including company and franchisee growth."
Taco Bueno filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in November. The company closed 11 Taco Bueno restaurants in D-FW in September and October, citing the shuttered fast-casual shops as underperforming.
In a company statement on Dec. 17, the closures were described as "a strategic decision based solely on business demands and changing traffic patterns." The statement says Taco Bueno's executives believe the closures "will lead to a stronger system."
[Update on Jan. 14, 2019: Taco Bueno announced that its sale to Taco Supremo LLC, an affiliate of Sun Holdings, Inc. is now complete.]
The Tex-Mex chain is based in Farmers Branch. CEO Omar Janjua and his team have been reviewing the performance of all Taco Buenos in the restaurant portfolio, though a majority of the closures have been near home base, in North Texas.
The total number of Taco Buenos in North Texas that have closed since fall 2018 now totals 25.
Some of Taco Bueno's restaurant equipment is already up for auction.
A list of all 25 recently-closed Taco Buenos in Dallas-Fort Worth:
Arlington
- 2307 S. Cooper St., Arlington (closed in fall 2018)
- 2140 E. Pioneer Parkway, Arlington (closed in fall 2018)
- 4920 S. Cooper St., Arlington (closed Dec. 17, 2018)
Balch Springs
- 11932 Elam Road, Balch Springs (closed in fall 2018)
Cleburne
- 1305 W. Henderson St., Cleburne (closed Dec. 10)
Dallas
- 2630 S. Buckner Blvd., Dallas (closed in fall 2018)
- 17848 Preston Road, Dallas (closed Dec. 17, 2018)
Fort Worth
- 5600 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth (closed in fall 2018)
- 8601 Camp Bowie W. Blvd., Fort Worth (closed in fall 2018)
- 7057 Ridgmar Meadow Road, Fort Worth (closed in fall 2018)
- 6050 S. Hulen St., Fort Worth (closed Dec. 10)
- 9101 North Freeway, Fort Worth (closed Dec. 10)
- 1608 Handley Drive, Fort Worth (closed Dec. 17, 2018)
Garland
- 5724 Broadway Blvd., Garland (closed Dec. 17, 2018)
Granbury
- 1180 East Highway 377, Granbury (closed in fall 2018)
Hurst
- 1321 Desiree Lane, Hurst (closed in fall 2018)
Irving
- 2951 N. Belt Line Road, Irving (closed Dec. 17, 2018)
- 904 W. Airport Freeway, Irving (closed Dec. 17, 2018)
Keller
- 1510 E. Keller Parkway, Keller (closed Dec. 17, 2018)
Mansfield
- 3140 E. Broad St., Mansfield (closed in fall 2018)
Plano
- 4100 Legacy Drive, Plano (closed Dec. 10)
- 720 W. Spring Creek Parkway, Plano (closed Dec. 17, 2018)
- 3400 K Ave., Plano (closed Dec. 17, 2018)
Roanoke
- 1200 N. Highway 377, Roanoke (closed in fall 2018)
Southlake
2305 E. Southlake Blvd., Southlake (closed Dec. 17, 2018)
Despite the long list, Taco Bueno is still operating restaurants in Dallas-Fort Worth and beyond. A search on the "locations" page of the website shows existing Taco Buenos in Garland, Mesquite, Addison, Richardson and more.
