The inventive street taco restaurant Gio Taco was locked out of its 2,500-square-foot space on Sunday after falling two months behind in its rent.
The restaurant, open just 15 months, had aspired to become part of the fabric of a revitalized downtown. But the concept didn't take off as owner Brian Metzger and his Metzger Family Restaurants had hoped.
“We had high hopes and high aspirations of Gio and for whatever reason it did not work," said Metzger, whose company also operates the year-old Poppy Kitchen at La Paloma Resort and Jackson Tavern in Plaza Palomino, which he opened late last year.
Metzger's landlord, Jim Campbell, changed the locks and posted a notice Sunday that he was taking back the premises for failure to meet the lease agreement. On Monday, Campbell would not elaborate on how Metzger Family Restaurants did not meet its lease obligations.
But Campbell did say that he has eight local restaurant operators in the wings anxious to take over the spot at 350 E. Congress St. He said he hopes to have someone in place and operating by summer.
Meanwhile, Metzger has more than three years left on his five-year lease. He and Campbell are in talks about their options.
See the full story in Tuesday's Star.
