Tucson’s culinary scene always seems to be bustling with news. Numerous restaurants opened their doors in the past year, and others reopened after being closed for a while. However, like anything, nothing lasts forever and a handful of local restaurants and businesses permanently closed their doors this year.
Some spots in Tucson have just temporarily closed — El Minuto Cafe, for example — but here’s a list of a few that are permanently closed. Also, some of these closures are for individual locations (the restaurants may have more than one spot in town).
This barbecue concept moved into the former Mama’s Hawaiian Bar-B-Cue and hosted its grand opening in late December. Their social media accounts have since been removed from the internet and a lock-out notice was left on the window back in March.
Jonathan Homan, the owner of Blush, let us know that there were multiple reasons why they decided to close. For one, Homan is relocating out of state to address increased family commitments, and another is due to some undisclosed concerns associated with the Fourth Avenue location.
Over on the northwest side of town, High 5 Grille got polished up a bit in November 2023 and became Cinco Cantina for the remainder of the year at 3682 W. Orange Grove Rd. However, on Wednesday, January 3, the restaurant permanently closed its doors after Jon Taffer, the food and beverage industry consultant on the TV show, lent a hand.
After nearly 40 years in business, Johnson closed her namesake café and art gallery that had been open since 1986 at 16140 N. Oracle Rd. It’s a moment to celebrate, though! It’s about time Johnson takes it easy and enjoys retirement.
“It is with a sad heart that Saturday, March 30 will be our last day at our Tanque Verde location,” the FireTruck Brewing team announced on Facebook. “We have been blessed with wonderful customers for the last five years at FireTruck East.”
The original midtown location (4746 E. Grant Rd.) and the Oro Valley location (9630 N. Oracle Rd. #110) will remain open.
The plant-based restaurant temporarily closed in late 2023 but then never reopened.
“Thank you, Tucson for the support over these last few years. We’ll miss you. It was a wild ride — we learned a lot. It was a great few years. We were glad you were able to come get some drinks you enjoyed.”
On Friday, May 3, the family-owned business announced that they’re going back to what’s proven to be most successful: operating out of a food truck only and serving some of the best churros in Tucson.
“We extend our sincere gratitude for your continued support,” they shared online. “Our new location will be situated in the parking lot of River and La Cañada, adjacent to Albertsons.”
Therefore, you can find them at 5075 N. La Cañada Dr., dishing out recipes that have been circulating within the family for more than 40 years. Plus, the family is excited to join more events and food truck rallies in the future.
The restaurant that has been around since the ’80s sold the building back in April. New ownership is bringing a brand-new brewery to town — Unicorn Zebra Brewing. They’ll be serving South African-inspired beers and seltzers sometime soon (the grand opening is TBD).
“It has been our pleasure serving the North Tucson and Marana communities these past 10 years,” they shared. “Our customers at La Mesa Tortillas NW have become our friends and we will deeply miss our daily interactions with you. We do hope you will continue to visit us at our midtown location at Pima and Alvernon, and our eastside store at Broadway and Pantano.”
“From the very beginning, The Low Down was more than just a bar and restaurant; it was a gathering place for friends, a stage for local talents, and a home for unforgettable culinary experiences. Each dish served, every drink poured, and all the laughter shared have woven a rich tapestry that, though no longer continuing, will remain a cherished part of Fourth Avenue’s storied fabric.”
It’s sad to see the Fourth Avenue location close — a spot that typically hosted live music on the patio during the weekends — but there are still two more Magpies spots in Tucson. Keep supporting the 6342 N. Oracle Rd. location on the north side of town as well as the restaurant found at 105 S. Houghton Rd.
“Good morning Tucson. It’s with a heavy heart that we have to tell you Monsoons is closing its doors after 10-plus years. We want to thank all the friends we have made throughout the years for your support. We couldn’t have done it without you.”
It’s been a sweet run for PopHeads at 845 E. University Blvd. Brother-in-laws Scott Harrison and Jim Roberts opened the popsicle stand on Main Gate Square as Peace, Love & Pops nearly two years ago in June 2022. They changed the name to PopHeads a little less than a year later.
The very last day to grab a coffee is Friday, May 31.
“This journey has been filled with countless cups of coffee, heartfelt conversations, and the joy of a real sense of belonging in our community. We want to extend our deepest gratitude to each and every one of you. Your support, smiles, and loyalty have made this experience truly unforgettable. Whether you were a regular who knew our baristas by name or a passerby who stopped for a quick pick-me-up, you have all been a part of what made Red Captain Coffee such a special place in our hearts.”
“It is with an extremely heavy heart that we have to announce we will no longer be operating in the mall food court,” he said. “The overhead has proven to be too high for us to continue going down that path to build our brand. We love and appreciate every single one of you who has supported us along the way these first two years. As you all know the first two are the hardest and location is a big deal when it comes to being able to get by each month.”
“It’s been my honor to serve you. I have loved sharing my culture with many of you, serving a warm, tropical hug disguised as a quesito or a tembleque,” The Sweet Coqui shared on Instagram. “I have proudly served a memory, a piece of home, a bittersweet smile to my fellow homesick Boricuas, in the form of a cookie or a bite of flan. I hope I represented our people, our culture, our flavors, our island, with the monumental respect and honor that it so deserves. Boricua hasta en la luna.”
For a list of restaurants that opened in the last year, check out our interactive guide.
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