Latest news with #Filiberto's
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
These beloved Mexican restaurant chains have closed Arizona locations in 2025
Arizona has seen a slate of store and restaurant closures this year. While the closure of stores like Joann and Macy's may have generated a lot of chatter, Arizona has also seen several major Mexican restaurant chains unexpectedly closing their doors, much to the dismay of customers. Recently, eight Filiberto's stores scattered across metro Phoenix quietly closed. In addition to the closures of the 24-hour restaurants, Buqui Bichi and On the Border also closed stores around town. Here's everything to know about the recent Mexican restaurant chains that have closed stores in Arizona, including which specific locations were impacted. Eight locations of the popular Valley chain Filiberto's have quietly closed, some permanently, according to signs posted on the doors. The 24-hour drive-through Mexican restaurant has more than 50 locations in metro Phoenix alone. Originally started by the Tenorio family, the chain has franchised its locations to many different owners. The eight locations are all owned by the Compadres Group. These are the eight locations that closed: Phoenix: 2955 N. 91st Ave, 17224 N. 19th Ave. Apache Junction: 10749 E. Apache Trail Chandler: 930 E. Pecos Road Gilbert: 1397 E. Williams Field Road Peoria: 13972 N. 83rd Ave. Scottsdale: 9150 E. Indian Bend Road Avondale: 1440 N. Dysart Road Buqui Bichi, an award-winning Mexican brewery, closed its last remaining Arizona taproom in downtown Phoenix in late May. It was the brewery's second ever location in the U.S. In August 2023, they opened their first U.S. location in Chandler. In January 2024, they opened a second store in downtown Phoenix. The Chandler location closed in October 2024 and was replaced by Miel de Agave. In a statement to The Republic, co-owner Martin Hurtado said: "Ultimately, we decided to close because the menu wasn't aligning with what our customers were looking for, many were expecting more traditional or recognizable Mexican offerings. Unfortunately, the franchise owners weren't open to adjusting the menu to better meet those local preferences, so we felt it was best to step away." On the Border Mexican Grill and Cantina closed all of its Arizona locations in February. The restaurant had three locations in the Valley: Mesa at 1710 S. Power Road, Peoria at 7873 W. Bell Road and Ahwatukee at 5005 E. Ray Road. All three locations show as permanently closed on the restaurant's social media pages. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: These beloved Mexican restaurant chains closed Arizona stores in 2025
Miami Herald
2 days ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
Popular Arizona Mexican chain unexpectedly closes restaurants
Local restaurants often seem like they have always been there and always will be there. In many cases, they have been part of the community for decades serving customers across multiple generations. Even when they pass from family ownership into becoming part of something bigger, the restaurant experience remains the same, That makes it especially jarring when a local favorite closes unexpectedly. Related: Popular pizza chain adds experimental new menu item fans will love Sometimes a local restaurant closing can be a celebration. Maybe the owner has no successor in place and does not want to sell to outside interests. When that happens, the shutdown can become a celebration as current and lapsed customers stop by for a final farewell. That's not usually what happens. Most restaurants close because they lose their lease, run out of money, or can no longer afford to operate in that market. Covid forced thousands of restaurants to close as they lost revenue due to lockdowns and never recovered enough to pay back loans taken during that dark period. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter The pandemic also forced many prices higher. Labor costs more as do many ingredients. In some cases, offices closed or went to a hybrid model, meaning fewer customers at lunch time for eateries built around serving office workers. It has been a very dark time and the closings have not stopped. While thousands of restaurants have suffered due to the current market, casual Mexican restaurants have been hit especially hard. That's at least partially because the nature of the food they're selling means that prices can only go so high. When your basic business premise revolves around offering a lot of food at a good price, that makes it harder to deal with rising costs. Filiberto's, a widely-known name in Arizona, has deep roots in the community. "With a passion for authentic Mexican cuisine and a dream to share it with the world, Flavio, Aurelio, Francisco, and Filiberto Tenorio opened the very first Filiberto's Mexican Food. From its humble beginnings, the restaurant quickly became a beloved spot for families seeking a friendly and flavorful dining experience," it shared on its website. More bankruptcy: Iconic auto repair chain franchise files Chapter 11 bankruptcyPopular beer brand closes down and files Chapter 7 bankruptcyPopular vodka and gin brand files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy The single location quickly became a regional chain. "Encouraged by their success, the Tenorio family brought Filiberto's to Mesa, Arizona in 1993, where it continued to thrive and win the hearts of locals. Celebrating over 30 years of serving up delicious Mexican fare, Filiberto's remains a cherished institution, renowned for its mouth-watering entrees, 24-hour drive-thru service, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere that feels like home," it added. The chain serves its take on what most Americans consider the classic Mexican menu. It offers tacos, tortas, burritos, and more. Fans of Filiberto's were shocked when they arrived at a number of the chain's locations to see that they had been closed down. "Why are a bunch of locations closed with just a sign on the door that says closed. No explanation or nothing. Just a hand written sign. 19th ave and bell.. 83rd and tbird. (and I think these are owned by the same person. Anyone know whats up?" one user posted on Reddit. In total, eight locations of the popular chain have closed without any comment from Compadres Group which owned all the shuttered restaurants. The chain has not made any mention of the closed restaurants on its website or its social media. Filiberto's Facebook page did celebrate its recent opening in Las Vegas. Not every customer was surprised by the closures. Many in the thread complained about price increases. "I get it that food and labor costs go up but Filiberto's menu price shoot way up and the quality/taste of the food went way down. Honestly, I could not and did not want to eat there anymore. I used to get the bean and cheese burrito. It used to be around $7 which was ok as it tasted good and the portion was good for one meal. I got the bean burrito now $11 one time a few months ago and it was small, the beans were puréed and tasted bad and there was not any cheese/salsa," wrote @jigmest. Related: Big beverage brand unexpectedly files Chapter 11 bankruptcy @Basswich69 shared a similar thought. "I remember years ago I would get the BOGO bean burrito deal during the week and it was like $3 for 2 full size burritos. Then they changed it to the jr burrito and now the bean burrito isn't even cheap enough for it to be worth it," they added. The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Filberto's Mexican Restaurant Chain Abruptly Closes 8 Arizona Locations
Many Arizonans are very familiar with Filiberto's Mexican Restaurants. Whether it's the burritos or the 24/7 drive-thrus, the chain is a well-known staple in the state. Filiberto's restaurants have become a much-replicated concept. Now, eight Filiberto's in Arizona have shut their doors all at once. The spate of closings surprised and baffled customers. "Why are a bunch of locations closed with just a sign on the door that says closed. No explanation or nothing. Just a handwritten know what's up?" wrote one befuddled person on Reddit. The Filiberto's restaurants are owned by John Schwimmer. His LinkedIn page describes him as the owner and operator of "eight Filberto's Mexican Food Restaurants in the Valley" through Compadres Group. According to the Phoenix New Times, the eight locations "closed with no explanation." Cesar Tenorio, described by the New Times as "a member of the family that founded Filiberto's in 1993," told the publication that Schwimmer shut down the restaurants after 'unforeseen medical issues.' Tenorio's family hopes to take them over, according to the New Times. The news site listed the shuttered locations as being in Phoenix, Avondale, Apache Junction, Chandler, Peoria, and Scottsdale. On Reddit, some people said they had stopped going to the restaurants because of the costs. The chain celebrated 30 years in Arizona in 2023. Axios labeled Filiberto's as an Arizona institution that started out in San Diego. Filiberto's restaurants are "Arizona's most ubiquitous and endlessly copied restaurant chain," Axios wrote. In 2018, there were 79 locations in Arizona, from Yuma to Flagstaff, the magazine Mexican Restaurant Chain Abruptly Closes 8 Arizona Locations first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 11, 2025
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
8 Arizona locations of this beloved 24-hour Mexican restaurant have quietly closed
Eight locations of the popular Valley chain Filiberto's have quietly closed, some permanently, according to signs posted on the doors. The 24-hour drive-through Mexican restaurant has more than 50 locations in metro Phoenix alone. Originally started by the Tenorio family, the chain has franchised its locations to many different owners. It is unclear if the eight locations are owned by the same person. Residents took to Reddit on June 6 to announce the mysterious closures, noting closed signs on the doors at two Filiberto's on 19th Avenue and 83rd Avenue. Some of the eight locations include the word "permanently" handwritten on the sign. Filberto's did not respond to a request for comment. The Phoenix and Peoria locations are closed, according to commenters on Reddit. The Avondale location is closed, according to Google Reviews. The remaining two closed locations were reported by the Phoenix New Times. Phoenix: 2955 N. 91st Ave, 17224 N. 19th Ave. Apache Junction: 10749 E. Apache Trail Chandler: 930 E. Pecos Road Gilbert: 1397 E. Williams Field Road Peoria: 13972 N. 83rd Ave. Scottsdale: 9150 E. Indian Bend Road Avondale: 1440 N. Dysart Road Reach the reporter at Follow @reia_reports on Instagram. Behind the -bertos: Why does Phoenix have so many -berto's restaurants? This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Popular Mexican food chain closes 8 stores in metro Phoenix
