Why Taco Mac's Latest Closure Feels Like a Slap in the Face

Yahoo

2 days ago

For years, Taco Mac's Midtown location on Peachtree Street was a go-to for wings, beer, and game-day crowds. But this week, the doors shut for good—and no one gave the staff a heads-up.
Fox 5 Atlanta reported that according to former employees, including bartender Brandon Jovan Stephens, the closure came without warning. "I worked Saturday and Sunday like normal," he said. "Nobody told us anything." He didn't hear it from a manager, an email, or a team meeting. Like many others, Stephens found out through a text, a sign on the door, and social media posts confirming what no one at the company would explain: Taco Mac Midtown was permanently closed.
"It's frustrating because it's not knowing," he said. "Just be honest. We bust our ass here."
The sign taped to the door read "Permanently Closed" and included a vague note that "dedicated team members... will be offered opportunities at nearby locations." But for many staffers who relied on the Midtown gig as their primary income—some supporting families—there's no guarantee of what comes next.
This closure marks the third Atlanta-area Taco Mac shutdown in two years. In 2023, the Decatur location shut down after 22 years in business. Just weeks ago, the chain shuttered its original Virginia-Highland location after 46 years, making way for a Jack Brown's Beer & Burger Joint. Midtown had been the only remaining in-town location.
For Stephens and his co-workers, it feels like a gut punch. "We built a clientele with our regulars," he said. "For this place to be shut down like this was just like a slap in the face."
What stings even more is the silence. No official explanation. No chance to say goodbye to coworkers or longtime customers. Just a locked door, a paper sign, and a lot of unanswered questions.
Despite the setback, Stephens is trying to stay hopeful. "It affected a lot of people that worked here," he said. "But when one door closes, another one opens. That's all we can do—keep going."
Why Taco Mac's Latest Closure Feels Like a Slap in the Face first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 5, 2025