Latest news with #Oscar'sTacoHouse
Miami Herald
01-06-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Popular Mexican chain closing another restaurant, no bankruptcy
If you're up for a challenge and triathlons, sailing across the ocean, or learning Icelandic don't appeal, consider opening a restaurant. Upstarting and running a restaurant are two of the hardest things a business owner can do. Related: See's Candies local rival unexpectedly closing after 50 years Unfortunately, you can't do one without the other. That's because both of these require a lot of cash, time, and resources. It's not exactly the kind of thing you can just run in the background and let things take care of themselves -- no matter what franchise owners might tell you. Consider everything starting a restaurant from scratch requires. First, you must invest in a physical location. That place better be somewhere popular -- or at the very least, accessible -- to attract as many customers as possible. Then you've got to renovate, buy all the necessary equipment, find and hire labor (which is highly seasonal and vulnerable to attrition), and purchase food and drinks. The food and drinks must be purchased and repurchased, and are often thrown out due to perishability. And utilities, like the cost of fuel or electricity, are often costlier than average since restaurants must be humming on a near-constant basis to keep food from spoiling. None of this is even remotely easy, and there's a reason one in two restaurants fail within their first five years of business. Even if you beat the odds and somehow become a popular dining destination, there are still plenty of pitfalls to be aware of. Just a few bad online reviews, failed inspections, changes in customer tastes, or even construction nearby can severely hinder business. More closings: Popular Mexican chain closing all restaurants, no bankruptcyIconic mall chain shuttering more stores foreverMajor gym closing multiple locations after franchisee bankruptcyAfter Chapter 11 bankruptcy, beloved retailer closes all stores Take, for instance, Oscar's Taco House in San Antonio, Tex. The famous puffy taco shop had been in business for six decades, but when the city began to draft plans to construct a new railroad overpass nearby, it forced the restaurant to close. Plus, customer tastes are increasingly fickle. What might have been popular a few years ago can change overnight. Ask all the Italian restaurants, who specialize in pastas, pizzas and breads, how they're faring given the recent rise in gluten-free dining. There's really no telling if -- or when -- something catastrophic might happen to even a popular restaurant. Mexican chains, which require a lot of variety and fresh ingredients to please their customers -- tend to be particularly vulnerable to rising costs or changes in taste. Related: Popular bankrupt retail chain prepares to close all 96 stores And now, Adobe Gila's, a Mexican restaurant located in Columbus, Ohio, is closing down after nearly three decades in business. The popular restaurant was known for its family-friendly environment, huge, 64 ounce margaritas, and sizzling hot plates including fajitas and tacos. But now, Adobe Gila's has quietly closed its doors at the Easton Town Center location and deleted its social media accounts. The restaurant did not give any reason for its closure, only stating, "Adobe Gila's recently closed. We do not have any further updates at this time." It has also closed locations in Dayton, Ohio and Orlando Fla. in the past. Adobe Gila's now only has one remaining location in Rosemont, Ill., located just outside Chicago O'Hare International Airport. Related: Popular local Trader Joe's rival suddenly closing after 40 years The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
After 63 Years, This Legendary Mexican Restaurant In San Antonio Is Being Forced To Close
San Antonio's culinary scene is rich with history and unforgettable flavors, attracting locals and tourists alike with food unparalleled anywhere else in the world. But post-pandemic, the restaurant scene never fully recovered from the hits that it took, equally losing customer sales and employee retention rates. Just days after the beloved, similarly-iconic Denver-based Breakfast Inn announced it was closing its doors for good, San Antonio's legendary Mexican restaurant, Oscar's Taco House, dropped the bomb that it's unexpectedly shutting down permanently -- but not by choice. According to multiple reports from local news sources, Oscar's Taco House is being forced to close by the city to make way for a new bridge. The bridge is part of a five-year project, officially named the South Zarzamora Street Overpass at Union Pacific Railroad, and it is expected to construct new bridges, roads, and sidewalks to improve mobility of the Southwest Side neighborhood. The restaurant's owner, Alex Pruneda, told local news source MySA that the city wanted the building closed by May 15, 2025, but Pruneda wrote a letter begging for an extension to give his 32 employees more time to prepare. The restaurant is set to officially lock up for the last time on June 28. Read more: 11 Mexican Restaurant Chains, Ranked Worst To Best Oscar G. Garcia opened Oscar's Taco House in 1962 at 705 Barrett Place, San Antonio, operating it first as a carhop burger joint and soon adding classic Tex-Mex entrees (if you're curious, here's what makes Tex-Mex different from Mexican cuisine). Garcia's sons took over the restaurant in 1978 after he passed away, but maintained the classic, old-school feel of decor and service. Over 40 years later, the restaurant was purchased in 2021 by close family friend Alex Pruneda, who's continued serving burgers, enchiladas, and, of course, San Antonio's world-famous and unique puffy tacos ever since. In the midst of Oscar's Taco House ceasing operations, lifelong fans and devoted customers expressed their disappointment on social media. In a Facebook group for San Antonio Restaurants, people shared stories about decades of happy memories within the restaurant's walls. One commenter said "I never thought [this] would happen. I hope they relocate, [because] that's a fav in that area," while another agreed that "it will be missed by customers who called [it] home." Oscar's Taco House has no current plans to relocate, so in the meantime, San Antonians will have to visit one final time before the end of June and take a chance on some of the other absolute best restaurants in San Antonio. Read the original article on Tasting Table.
Miami Herald
26-05-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Beloved taco restaurant closing iconic location after 63 years
In recent years, restaurants just have not been able to catch a break. In 2020, stay-at-home orders made in-person dining impossible for months. And once restaurants were able to welcome diners back in, issues arose. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter Generous stimulus policies, including boosted unemployment benefits, made it very difficult for restaurants to find workers. Supply chain issues also made it tough for restaurants to get their hands on the ingredients they needed. Related: After closing 600 locations, fast-food chain has many more planned More recently, inflation has pushed restaurants to the brink. It's gotten increasingly expensive for restaurants to source ingredients and supplies. And the tactic of passing those costs on to consumers hasn't been working, since many Americans are cash-strapped themselves due to generally higher living costs. Not surprisingly, a number of big names in the restaurant space have closed their doors or filed for bankruptcy in recent years. And if current economic conditions persist, more restaurant closures could be in store. A big reason so many restaurants have sought out Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection or closed their doors these past few years has boiled down to money, or a lack thereof. But money isn't the only reason a famed restaurant might choose to shutter. The restaurant business is a brutal one to be in, and owning a restaurant isn't for the faint of heart. Related: Iconic restaurant closing its doors after 32 years Often, it means working long hours and enduring lots of stress for limited financial upside. So for some establishments, closures come as a result of owner burnout. In some cases, though, restaurants are effectively forced to close for reasons outside their control. San Antonio's Southside neighborhood is known for its taquerias that serve authentic Tex-Mex and Mexican-style dishes. But now, a popular taco restaurant is closing its doors for good after a successful 63 years in business. The worst part? The restaurant is being forced to vacate its iconic location so the city can construct a bridge. Related: KFC's newest restaurant concept has customers obsessed Oscar's Taco House, a beloved restaurant that's been serving up Tex-Mex classics and comfort food since 1962, is shuttering at the end of June so the city can use the land it sits on for construction. As Alex Pruneda told MySA, "The city bought us. They've been saying it for five or 10 years now that they want to build a bridge." Pruneda also said the city initially wanted the restaurant to shutter by May 15, but he was able to extend its stay until June 28. That gives fans of the famous restaurant a few more weeks to get their fill of the dishes they know and love. Fans of Oscar's Taco House took to Facebook to express their disappointment over the news. "I'm really saddened," one user said. "This place has been a staple for comfort food in my family for years and memories," said another. Known for its famous puffy tacos, fans of Oscar's have long appreciated its old-school, authentic vibe. The restaurant was so successful that it was able to thrive, despite not even having an online system for ordering food like so many eateries do. Some fans of Oscar's suggested that the restaurant try to find a new location. But the general consensus is that relocating just won't work. The restaurant has a certain feel that probably can't be mimicked elsewhere. More Fast Food & Restaurant News: Starbucks makes shocking pricing move customers will loveBankrupt restaurant chain offers new deal, stiff drinkNew Taco Bell menu items combines multiple classics Oscar's encouraged its Facebook fans to come in for a meal before the restaurant says goodbye for good. "We invite you to come in and enjoy our delicious food one last time during these final months. Let us serve you, as we've always done, with the warmth and hospitality you've come to expect." The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
Miami Herald
23-05-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Famous Mexican restaurant unexpectedly closing, no bankruptcy
One of the most fickle industries to operate a business in is the restaurant space. Sometimes, it seems like no matter what you do, an eatery just seems destined to fail. Related: Popular Mexican chain closing all restaurants, no bankruptcy Part of this is because running a dining establishment is so resource-intensive. Let's say you're starting up a restaurant from scratch. You'd need a lot of money up front to purchase property, equipment, dining accessories, and to make the necessary renovations. Once the foundation has been laid, you'd need to hire labor, which is typically hard to come by and can be highly seasonal with a lot of turnover. And recurring costs are expensive, too. Since you'd be running electricity near-constantly to preserve food, and you'd be keeping long hours, utilities would be higher than average. And food is a perishable good, so fresh products would need to be shipped in almost daily - and a lot of it would go to waste. But costs are just the beginning of a restaurant owner's plight. Customer tastes are also incredibly fickle. What's considered trendy and exotic now may be considered a flash in the pan a year from now. More Food & Dining: Iconic Warren Buffett candy store suddenly closing after 30 yearsWalmart's Sam's Club makes a Costco-style food court changePopular Trader Joe's wine brand has bad news, making harsh choice And even if your food is deemed worthy, rising costs of living, a few bad online reviews, or changing population trends can sink your business before it even takes off. It's no wonder, then, that about one in five restaurants fail within their first year of business. That number increases to about one in two restaurants by year five. And sometimes, even when everything seems to be going right, something unexpected happens and sinks your whole operation. Such is the case for Oscar's Taco House, a popular taco shop located in San Antonio, Texas. Oscar's Taco House is famous for its puffy tacos, which are fried for a few seconds until they puff up, making for a crunchy and indulgent twist on the traditional Mexican favorite. The restaurant had been in business for over 60 years, since 1962. But now, it's closing as the City of San Antonio prepares to construct a railroad overpass near the city block where Oscar's Taco House operates. Related: Home Depot local rival closing permanently after 120 years The owner of Oscar's Taco House, Alex Pruneda, said the planned construction will hurt business by reducing customer flow and foot traffic. Oscar's also functions as a drive-in, but the railroad project will ostensibly block easy access. The City of San Antonio reportedly asked for Oscar's to vacate business in May 2025, but ultimately granted an extension. So the official last day for Oscar's Taco House will be June 28. Construction is expected to begin in mid-2026, and Oscar's has no plans to relocate or reopen business elsewhere. The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
