Cup It Up American Grill Permanently Closes After Social Media Backlash

Cup It Up American Grill Permanently Closes After Social Media Backlash

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Cup It Up American Grill is packing it up following a controversial political Facebook post they shared on Friday.

The Facebook post showed the company’s stance on controversial topics such as repealing Obamacare, drug screening for welfare recipients, Antifa, global warming, and NFL players kneeling during the national anthem. The post was deleted a few hours afterward due to an extreme influx of negative feedback. The restaurant’s Facebook page was also removed.

In the article Cup It Up closes amid harassment over Facebook post, the Arizona Daily Star reported “the restaurant was the target of endless harassing and threatening phone calls” since their Facebook post. Several employees quit as a result of the calls.

Cup It Up’s first location opened in January of 2016 at 1101 N. Wilmot Rd., followed by the Main Gate Square restaurant at 760 N. Tyndall Ave. Both locations are now closed. The restaurant is owned by Chris Smith along with partners Jay Warren and Julian Alarcon, who was not involved with the post and resigned on Saturday.

Phone calls to Cup It Up and Smith were not returned.

Diners looking to get their customized salad fix locally can check out Choice Greens and Core.

For more information, visit cupitup.com and read the article from the Arizona Daily Star, Cup It Up closes amid harassment over Facebook post.

Article written by:

Jackie Tran

Jackie Tran is a Tucson-based food writer and photographer. Best known locally for his work for Tucson Foodie, his work has also appeared in publications such as Bon Appétit, National Geographic, and the New York Times.

Outside of food, he also loves playing musical instruments and petting pets.

If you’d like to stalk him, visit his Instagram @jackie_tran_ or jackietran.com.

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The @Tucsonasiannightmarket is coming up! Here are a few things to know before you go. 

🎟️ $10 General Admission
🎟️ Foodie Club members get 50% off 
🎟️ Kids 12 and under are free

• Tickets are emailed to you and available in the Tucson Foodie app. Show your QR code at the gate. No printing needed! 
• Free parking is available. Enter off Ajo Way. 
• No dogs are allowed. 
• Refunds are available up to 7 days before the event.

TICKET ADD-ONS: 
• Chef-Served Food Flight | $20 
Enjoy three dishes featuring Filipino, Indochinese, and Vietnamese flavors. A vegetarian option is also available.

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Get in at 5 pm, one hour before general admission, with access to a dedicated entrance and VIP parking.

Save this post for later, and get your tickets through the Tucson Foodie app or Tucsonfoodie.com! 

📍 Kino Sports Complex 
📅 Saturday, November 28 from 6–10 pmThe @Tucsonasiannightmarket is coming up! Here are a few things to know before you go. 🎟️ $10 General Admission 🎟️ Foodie Club members get 50% off 🎟️ Kids 12 and under are free • Tickets are emailed to you and available in the Tucson Foodie app. Show your QR code at the gate. No printing needed! • Free parking is available. Enter off Ajo Way. • No dogs are allowed. • Refunds are available up to 7 days before the event. TICKET ADD-ONS: • Chef-Served Food Flight | $20 Enjoy three dishes featuring Filipino, Indochinese, and Vietnamese flavors. A vegetarian option is also available. • Early Entry + VIP Parking | $15 Get in at 5 pm, one hour before general admission, with access to a dedicated entrance and VIP parking. Save this post for later, and get your tickets through the Tucson Foodie app or Tucsonfoodie.com! 📍 Kino Sports Complex 📅 Saturday, November 28 from 6–10 pm
Have you tried the new holiday drinks at @desertdriftercoffee?💝

The new lineup is full of cozy, nostalgic flavors.

✨ Gingerbread Chai made with @tucsonchocolatefactory gingerbread sauce and @mayateaco chai. Order with alternative milk to make it vegan, and pair it with a vegan gingerbread cookie from @houldens.riseabove for the ultimate gingerbread combo. The cookie is also gluten-free!

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Which one are you trying first?!Have you tried the new holiday drinks at @desertdriftercoffee?💝 The new lineup is full of cozy, nostalgic flavors. ✨ Gingerbread Chai made with @tucsonchocolatefactory gingerbread sauce and @mayateaco chai. Order with alternative milk to make it vegan, and pair it with a vegan gingerbread cookie from @houldens.riseabove for the ultimate gingerbread combo. The cookie is also gluten-free! 🔥Spice Drop Red Bull or Tea (vegan & gluten-free) 🍎Apple Pie Latte (vegan w alternative milk & gluten-free) 🍫Butterscotch Mocha made with TCF sauce and Danzeisen Dairy chocolate milk (gluten-free) 🥛Nana’s Eggnog made with local Danzeisen eggnog Which one are you trying first?!
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We stopped by to try a few things from the new menus, including the Cornbread & Eggs with pork carnitas and green chile cream sauce, Crab Omelet, Fried Chicken & Waffles with hot honey, and Brioche French Toast with Seville orange marmalade and Chantilly cream.

The weekend brunch menu also includes a classic breakfast and fruit & yogurt, with dishes ranging from $13 to $19.

For lunch, you can find options like the Miramonte Cobb Salad and Tomato Mozzarella.

Visit Miramonte for lunch Tuesday through Sunday and weekend brunch!@Miramontetucson is now serving lunch daily and brunch on weekends! Located at 3352 E. Speedway Blvd., the midtown restaurant has expanded its hours, with doors opening at 11 a.m.🌞 We stopped by to try a few things from the new menus, including the Cornbread & Eggs with pork carnitas and green chile cream sauce, Crab Omelet, Fried Chicken & Waffles with hot honey, and Brioche French Toast with Seville orange marmalade and Chantilly cream. The weekend brunch menu also includes a classic breakfast and fruit & yogurt, with dishes ranging from $13 to $19. For lunch, you can find options like the Miramonte Cobb Salad and Tomato Mozzarella. Visit Miramonte for lunch Tuesday through Sunday and weekend brunch!
@Ursa_az earned two national honors on Nov. 10. @Eater named chef Aaron Lopez (@Aaron_lopez_86) one of five 2026 Chefs of the Year. 

Additionally, @Nytimes awarded the restaurant three stars. The recognitions put Tucson’s Sonoran Desert tasting menu in front of a national audience.

Read the article on Tucsonfoodie.com@Ursa_az earned two national honors on Nov. 10. @Eater named chef Aaron Lopez (@Aaron_lopez_86) one of five 2026 Chefs of the Year. Additionally, @Nytimes awarded the restaurant three stars. The recognitions put Tucson’s Sonoran Desert tasting menu in front of a national audience. Read the article on Tucsonfoodie.com