Beloved Tex Mex staple shuts all locations forever after decades
The final shutdown comes a couple of years after a huge wave of closures for the chain, including its 33-year-old flagship restaurant in Austin. Z'Tejas continued to operate four locations by the time 2025 rolled around. However, the chain was quietly searching for a buyer before ultimately deciding to shutter all restaurants. 'We are deeply grateful to our guests, neighbors, and friends for your support, your stories, and for making Z'Tejas a part of your lives,' the management team added.
Z'Tejas was known for creating made-from-scratch Southwestern cuisine, as well as features like brunch and private events. It reached its peak in the 1990s after expanding its operations to Arizona and once operated 14 restaurants, at least one being in California. Things took an unfortunate turn for the chain in the 2010s, leading to a bankruptcy filing in 2015 due to tough competition and trend changes.
Z'Tejas filed for the second time in 2017, and was acquired by Randy Cohen, founder of ticket company TicketCity, a year later with the hope of bringing it back to its former glory. 'We've got so much love and spirit at Z'Tejas and I just want to see it bounce back to the magic it used to be,' Cohen told Ahwatukee Foothills News in 2023. The company invested $1 million in a restaurant revamp, which included new murals, decorations, furniture, and landscaping. While Cohen put the chain up for sale, co-owner Robby Nethercut claimed the restaurants were doing 'really well' and hoped a buyer would help the brand grow. Sadly, Z'Tejas could not find any bidders, making it the end of the road for the once-thriving chain. Z'Tejas is not the only restaurant business to have permanently shuttered this year.
The once-popular EVOS burger chain ceased operations after 31 years in April . Sticky's Finger Joint, a New York-based chicken chain, is closing all its restaurants after failing to bounce back from its April bankruptcy filing. Others have shrunk significantly over the last few years following longtime financial struggles. On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina, a major Z'Tejas competitor, filed for bankruptcy in March and is closing 76 restaurants in 24 states. Chains hanging on by a thread after bankruptcy filings include Dallas-based pub chain Bar Louie and Planta, a celebrity hotspot known for Asian-inspired dishes . Other businesses like Jack in the Box and Noodles & Company are in the process of completing mass closures while avoiding Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
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