Dante’s Fire, the midtown Tucson restaurant and cocktail bar at 2526 E. Grant Rd., will permanently close after a final day of service on July 19, 2026. Partner-chef Kenneth Foy cited an upcoming building remodel and the ongoing Grant Road widening project as the reasons for the closure. The restaurant has served the Tucson community for 13 years.
“It is with great sadness that we announce Dante’s permanent closure on July 19th,” the announcement reads. “We will miss our community, friends, family, and staff. It has been an honor to serve Tucson for the last 13 years.”
A midtown staple built on scratch cooking
Foy opened Dante’s Fire on East Grant Road and built a menu centered on scratch cooking and locally sourced ingredients. Over the years, the restaurant hosted multi-course dinners, a Summer Whiskey Dinner Series, and R&D dinners that let guests sample dishes in development and share feedback directly with the kitchen. The restaurant also rebranded in recent years as Dante’s Kitchen + Cocktails and Dante’s Tavern, though it retained its original identity with longtime regulars.
Foy competed in Iron Chef Tucson multiple times, winning the competition in 2022 with a series of cherry-inspired courses and again in 2023 with a peanut butter-themed menu.
“I am honored to represent Tucson as the 2022 Iron Chef,” Foy said after that win. “I want to thank all of the Dante’s Fire faithful and my restaurant family for their support over the years. We love you, Tucson.”
Grant Road widening adds pressure to the timeline
The City of Tucson’s Grant Road Improvement Project, which carries an estimated construction cost of $63.2 million, includes widening the roadway to six lanes, adding landscaped median islands, five-foot bike lanes, and upgraded sidewalks. Phases 3 and 4 are on track to finish at their expected time in October 2026. The construction corridor runs through the stretch of Grant Road where Dante’s sits, and Foy’s announcement pointed to both the road project and an imminent building remodel as factors in the decision to close.
Furthermore, the widening effort has reduced Grant Road to one lane in each direction for much of the build, creating access challenges for businesses along the corridor.
What comes next for Foy
Foy says the team will continue operating through Tucson Catering Company and Solana Spanish Villas. Those two ventures will carry on the culinary work after the Grant Road restaurant closes.
“We will continue to provide our services through Tucson Catering Company and Solana Spanish Villas,” the announcement states. “Stay awesome Tucson!”
Dante’s Fire remains open through July 18. Guests who want to say farewell can still visit for Escargot, Jalapeno Poppers, and Chicken Marsala. For more on Tucson restaurant closures, see the Tucson Foodie guide to permanently closed restaurants. For past coverage of Chef Foy and Dante’s Fire, see the 2022 Iron Chef Tucson recap.
Keep up with Dante’s Fire on Instagram.
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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.
