Fast-casual Mexican Chain Closes All Its Locations

On The Border, a Tex-Mex fast-casual edifice chain, will close each of its locations Friday.

The institution revenge for Chapter 11 bankruptcy successful March 2025 and was acquired by Pappas Restaurants 2 months later. The chain, which serves “Border-Style Tex-Mex cuisine” including fajitas, tacos and margaritas, according to its website, has been reducing its 60 locations since nan acquisition. As of Friday, nan company's website listed 33 locations crossed nan U.S.

“On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina has made nan difficult determination to move guardant pinch a important modulation successful its edifice operations, which will see nan closing of company-owned locations by extremity of time Friday, June 12, 2026,” OTB Hospitality, nan restaurant’s firm guidance group, told Fast Company.

OTB Hospitality said that independently-operated franchise locations — which includes restaurants successful South Dakota, Florida, Nevada, California, and South Korea — will stay successful operation.

An worker astatine nan company’s Wichita Falls location told KFDX/KJTL that nan closures had near her pinch only 2 days to find a caller job.

“I was called by respective labor informing maine that they were shutting down each On The Border locations and our past time would beryllium Friday,” nan woman, who was not named, said.

“I’m a azygous mom who walks to activity each time to effort and salary my bills. It’s highly upsetting to person a institution wholly disregard really galore of america person families. Two days is simply a slap successful nan look to a batch of us. I wish nan champion to each my coworkers and dream that we tin each find a occupation fast.”

In its connection to Fast Company, OTB Hospitality said its "immediate attraction is connected supporting our squad members done this modulation and ensuring an orderly and respectful closure," though it was unclear what precisely that meant for workers.

The Independent has requested remark from OTB Hospitality.

The news of nan closure amazed not only labor but besides nan chain’s loyal customers. One Wichita Falls resident told KFDX/KJTL that On The Border was a regular extremity for him and his wife.

“This is nan spot for maine and my wife. We decidedly travel present to eat,” Darren Burrus told nan news station. “Today we conscionable wanted to get retired and do thing and travel present and find retired that 1 of my favourite places is closing.”

Another regular customer, Twany Nelson, told nan outlet that she met her hubby while they were moving together astatine nan edifice much than a decade ago.

“I was shocked and a small sad because maine and my hubby some worked present astatine nan aforesaid clip and met here, and we’ve been together 13 years,” she said.

On The Border opened successful 1982 successful Dallas, Texas, according to NBC5. The original edifice closed for regular work successful 2019 and re-opened nan aforesaid twelvemonth arsenic a catering and delivery-only location.