Neighborhood restaurant and milkshake maestro Stray Dogs will close at the end of dinner service on Tuesday, January 16.
“It’s been a great run,” said Tom Firth, managing partner and co-owner of Stray Dogs and Zona 78. “It’s bittersweet for us. We’re absorbing as much staff as we can over at Zona 78 east.”
Stray Dogs on Facebook posted the following on Tuesday to confirm their closure:
“It’s been very successful,” Firth said. “It’s a lifestyle decision for the owners. We own the real estate here. We had somebody that approached us several times.”
The space at 78 W. River Rd. originally opened as Italian restaurant Zona 78 in 2003 before closing and reopening as Stray Dogs in March 2016.
Although it has no current plans to reopen, “the concept has some legs and good strength, so you never know,” Firth said.
Keep up with Stray Dogs on Facebook.
Article written by:
Jackie Tran
More about JackieJackie Tran is a Tucson-based food writer, photographer, culinary educator, and owner-chef of the now-closed food truck Tran’s Fats. Although he is 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.
An adventurous foodie, he enjoys culinary experiences ranging from seasonal omakase to sloppily devouring green chili patty melts in his car afterhours. His favorite foods include aguachile, garlic noodles, and leftover fried chicken illuminated by the fridge light. His favorite drinks include morning micheladas, fireside imperial stouts, candle-lit negroni, and grassy mezcales.
Outside of food, he also loves playing musical instruments, karaoke, Tetris, Super Smash Bros. Melee, and petting Addie’s dog Spaghetti.
If you’d like to stalk him, visit his Instagram @jackie_tran_ or jackietran.com.
