LOSS LEASER
Game-changing restaurant closes doors of its last-ever location with personal note to diners after lease talks failed
There is a glimmer of hope for fans who are willing to pay for a team of chefs
A POPULAR taco restaurant has been forced to shutter for good after lease negotiations fell through.
Salud Tacos based in San Diego has been a beloved fixture on the Californian eating scene since 2015.
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However, the local chain has now announced the permanent closure of its last site, much to the dismay of locals.
The restaurant known as "The King of All Tacos" made the difficult announcement on social media on Saturday.
"This might be one of the hardest things I've ever had to express publicly," a statement read on Facebook.
"For the past year our lease in Barrio Logan was coming to terms, and we have been trying to negotiate a new lease in our same space, and over that past year, nothing has come to fruition.
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"Not being able to secure what we needed, along with other setbacks out of anyone's control, I've had to realize that maybe things happen for a reason and are just meant to be."
The statement continued saying that the decision to close followed "many sleepless nights" that saw the owner "wrestling with many thoughts and emotions."
"There's no easy way to say it. And learning to let go has been a task unto itself," they said.
Discussing the history of the chain, the owners reminisced about its grass-roots beginnings "on the cutting edge of the taco movement" to becoming an icon for authentic Latin American cuisine.
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It previously had locations in National City and Las Vegas but they have already shuttered.
La Bamba, a bar connected to Salud will also be closing its doors for good.
Retail CEO warns of more closures as Rubio’s abruptly shutters 48 restaurants – businesses are at a ‘breaking point’
'BAD JOKE'
Fans have been left shocked by the news, with many lashing out at local property owners for pricing out good businesses.
"This is terrible!!! I am in shock!!! Memories of good times and good food," one said on Facebook.
"Please tell me this is just a bad joke," another added.
"Start a food truck [and] park it next to the building," a third suggested.
"Bet the landlord is trying to sell to a high-rise developer, where these developments fail as overpriced."
Meanwhile, on Instagram, users claimed that "Landlords are killing San Diego."
"This is extremely devastating," another said.
Restaurant closures in 2024
BOSSES at major dining chains have announced a series of restaurant closures. The U.S. Sun has compiled a list of the chain's affected.
- Cracker Barrel: Stores in Medford, Oregon, Columbia, South Carolina, and Sacramento, California, have closed.
- Mod Pizza: Bosses dramatically shuttered 27 shops, including in the state of California.
- Frisch's Big Boy: Restaurant chiefs confirmed the closure of a restaurant in Covington, Kentucky.
- Two Bucks: Four restaurants in Ohio are set to close.
- Chili's: A restaurant in Port Arthur, Texas, has shut permanently.
- Friendly's: Bosses confirmed an establishment in Ronkonkoma, Long Island will close.
- Pizza Hut: A restaurant in Glen Falls, New York, closed at the end of March.
- Denny's: Two restaurants in Boise and Nampa, Idaho, have closed.
- Carl's Jr.: The first Boise, Idaho location has closed.
"The shift in locally owned businesses vs gentrification has become more and more evident in the past 3 years. It's extremely depressing."
A fellow business owner and customer called the news "extremely sad" for the community as well as employees at the restaurant.
"Salud is a staple of what Barrio Logan has become today," the user wrote.
"One of the best years of my life was having a studio directly across the street from you, not just because the food was amazing...but I could hear the joy and laughter coming from across the street daily.
"Y’all made me feel welcome from day 1, even to this day when I visit Barrio I have to go to Salud to say hello it’s mandatory."
The only piece of consolation to fans is that the Taco company will continue to be available for hire for various catering events, it has confirmed.
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It is not known what will take its place but the owners have wished those that follow the best of luck.
San Diego has also lost 13 Rubio's locations this month after the fellow Taco chain shuttered 48 locations and filed for bankruptcy.
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