It’s all the time disappointing to see a favourite restaurant shut down, a spot that gives consolation as a lot as nice meals. Sadly, that’s occurring throughout the nation.
The U.S. restaurant trade’s gross sales forecast has “dampened,” with 2025 revenues anticipated to succeed in $478 billion, up simply 2.8% from 2024 — the smallest annual enhance in a decade exterior the 2020 Covid pandemic droop, based on a report from Technomic.
Classes struggling probably the most embrace burgers, sandwiches, and pizza. And whereas Mexican-themed eating places are outperforming the broader market with an anticipated 6.2% development this 12 months, some are nonetheless succumbing to rising prices and financial stress, together with one common regional chain that has now shut down fully.
Matteo’s Genuine Mexican Meals confirmed sudden closure of all 4 areas.
Picture supply: Shutterstock
Matteo’s Genuine Mexican Meals closing all areas
Matteo’s Genuine Mexican Meals is closing all 4 of its areas within the Chihuahuan Desert area of the Southwestern United States, reported KTSM.
The regional restaurant’s possession group had 4 areas: one in El Paso, a serious Texas metropolis on the Mexico border; two in Las Cruces, New Mexico’s second-largest metropolis and residential to New Mexico State College; and one in Alamogordo, a smaller metropolis recognized for its proximity to White Sands Nationwide Park.
Matteo’s homeowners introduced the closure in an emotional Fb submit on Nov. 10, citing financial difficulties to maintain the high-quality operations.
“To our beloved community, it is with heavy hearts that we announce the difficult decision to cease operations at all four of our locations. Despite our best efforts over the past few years to adapt and sustain the business, the rising cost of inventory, decline in sales, and our commitment to using only high-quality ingredients have made it impossible to continue operations.”
The homeowners confirmed that the choice was sudden, and thanked the group for all of the years they supported it, sharing hope it will come again once more.
“This decision was neither planned nor easy to make. We are deeply grateful for the love and support we’ve received from our wonderful communities in Las Cruces, El Paso, and Alamogordo. We truly hope that, in the future, we can regroup and return stronger than ever. Thank you for being an important part of our journey.”
Matteo’s Genuine Mexican Meals areas:
- Matteo’s Mexican Meals – El Paso, at 6450 N. Desert Blvd, El Paso, TX
- Matteo’s Mexican Meals – College, at 1001 E. College Ave, Las Cruces, NM
- Matteo’s Mexican Meals – Downtown, at 138 S. Principal St., Las Cruces, NM
- Matteo’s Mexican Meals – Alamogordo, at 423 White Sands Blvd. A Alamogordo, NM
From meals truck to 4 eating places: the story of Matteo’s Genuine Mexican Meals
It began in 2018, when two brothers from Juarez and the similar twin sisters from Las Cruces whom they married united on a shared dream to personal a pleasant restaurant at some point. Matteo’s Genuine Mexican Meals’s starting was truly a meals truck, reported The NMSU Spherical UP.
“The home-grown recipes and agua frescas quickly became a gastronomical hit, and after about a year the business evolved into a brick-and-mortar on University Avenue near the New Mexico State University campus,” writes Kiss FM.
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Brothers Sergio and Hugo Rios and sisters Melody and Michelle named the restaurant Mateo, after Melody and Hugo’s son.
It took them 9 months working a meals truck to have the ability to open the restaurant. And after they opened, they continued to concentrate on the meals high quality and repair, writes Jensen Stell for the NMSU Spherical Up. Stell visited the restaurant within the College Park District of Las Cruces six years in the past, speaking to friends and sharing experiences.
“I always really like the aguas frescas, personally. I think those are really good,” Alexandra Palacios, a Matteo’s buyer for the reason that meals truck days, stated.
On the entrance, friends can be welcomed by one of many homeowners, Michelle Rios. In addition to high-quality substances and punctiliously ready in-house meals and drinks, the homeowners paid particular consideration to customer support.
“This is a place, especially for students [at NMSU] where they could come and not only be fed physically, but also emotionally and feel good,” Rios stated.
Financial headwinds have killed many different eating places in 2025
To say that this has not been an excellent 12 months for the restaurant companies can be an understatement. The truth is, the hospitality sector is just not the one one affected by main financial headwinds.
Many retailers are coping with comparable challenges together with rising labor prices pushed by inflation, aggressive competitors, and shifts in client habits. For eating places already weakened by Covid lockdowns, there’s one other problem: rising meals costs.
Adjustments in client habits, significantly the truth that customers are eating out much less, is totally comprehensible, since consuming at a restaurant grew to become 3.8% costlier in Could 2025 in comparison with 2024, based on information from the U.S. Division of Agriculture.
Main non-Mexican restaurant chains that closed or downsized in 2025 embrace:
- Bahama Breeze: Closed 15 of its areas in Could 2025.
- Joe’s Crab Shack: The chain used to have practically 150 eating places nationwide and now has below 20.
- Bar Louie: Filed for Chapter 11 chapter in March 2025.
- Patti Ann’s: Closed in 2025.
- Denny’s: Continues closing eating places and downsizing.
- Hooters: Filed for chapter in April 2025.
Mexican eating places that closed or considerably downsized in 2025:
- Fernando’s Mexican Delicacies: Closed each of its areas in Could 2025.
- Quesadilla Gorilla: Introduced it’ll shut two areas in November and December 2025.
- Taco Cabana: The 47-year-old Mexican fast-casual chain just lately closed underperforming areas.
- Del Taco: Franchisee in Colorado closed 18 areas in February 2025.
- Abuelo’s: Just lately filed for Chapter 11.
- Salty Iguana:Closed all of its restaurant areas in February 2025.
- On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina: Filed for Chapter 11 in March 2025.
Prospects are disillusioned with Matteo’s Genuine Mexican Meals closure
Prospects praised Matteo’s meals for its authenticity.
Menu gadgets included conventional favorites and distinctive creations, from “must-try Brisket Fridays and Saturdays for meat lovers” to aguas frescas, tacos, enchilada plates, and carne asada fries. The restaurant chain had a mean 4 out of 5 stars ranking on Yelp.
Listening to the information in regards to the closure, some longtime clients commented on Fb, sharing their disappointment.
“Oh, my dear friend, sending you lots of love and prayers. You all did such an incredible job serving the community with the most amazing, delicious food and received us all with so much kindness,” wrote Denice Vizcaino.
A number of customers steered that the chain attempt to preserve at the least one location, whereas others informed the homeowners about their favourite meals and the way they are going to be missed. Some longtime clients even remembered Matteo’s food-truck days.
Jennifer Serrano wrote: “Nooo, i love your food…it takes me back home in one spoonful. I wish i could go eat it one more time before you close….Please come back soon. We love you.”
Many friends wished the homeowners good luck, whereas noting that they are going to be exhausting to interchange.
Rikki Medina stated, “You will be missed everything on the menu was exquisite and yummy…. I loved your aguas frescas and your champurado this time of the season…blessings.”
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