As Tucson continues to welcome new restaurants around the city, we've also lost quite a few along the way.
Here are 16 restaurants that have closed their doors this year. (Plus, a few anecdotes from the Tucsonans who loved them.)
Bentley's House of Coffee and Tea ☕
“We couldn’t bring back the magic,” says Jo Schneider of her longtime Tucson diner, Bentley’s House of Coffee & Tea, 1730 E. Speedway.
Bentley's coffeehouse, located at 1730 E. Speedway, closed up shop at the very end of 2021 after nearly 40 years of business. Jo Schneider and longtime friend Willow Bentley opened the coffee and tea house 38 years ago. Although Bentley's has permanently closed its doors, you can still find the team behind it at their other downtown restaurants: LaCo and TallBoys.
When Bentley's announced they were closing in late December of last year, current and former Tucsonans flocked to their Facebook page to thank them.
One comment from Tucsonan Julie Ragland said: "Bentley's was one of the first cafes I discovered when I moved here at 16 with my family in the '90s. I sure will miss the ashtray mocha shakes, delicious tuna melts, toy dinosaurs who accompanied me to the table until my food came, tip jar contests, local art on the walls, local music in the air, and local people to chat with in a locally-owned cafe. Thank you for all the good times, Bentley's. Thank you Jo and Ben and Eli for making it one of Tucson's most specialist places."
Tino's Pizza 🍕
Tino's Pizza closed in early February after nearly four decades in business.
On Jan. 5, the family behind Tino's Pizza announced on social media that the pizzeria would close its doors for good after 35 years in business. The restaurant located at 6610 E. Tanque Verde Road made its last pie on Feb. 2.
“It’s hard to let go,” Morgan Chonis, the family’s spokeswoman told the Star in January. “It’s been amazing, and the community and love and outpouring of support has been unreal. But ultimately it came down to the family’s decision to retire my father’s legacy.”
Tino's Pizza founder Dino Chonis died in April 2020 at the age of 59 due to an aggressive and rare cancer.
Tucsonan Taylor Vegor commented on the Tino's Pizza Facebook announcement: "Such great pizza. I will always have amazing memories of this place! Growing up, we would walk here to have pizza and play the games you had in the back room. Dino was always so kind to our family over the years."
L Station Cafe & Bar 🍹
The original A-Frame roof is visible inside the bar area at L Station Cafe & Bar on Fourth Avenue.
The L Station Cafe & Bar, located at 500 N. Fourth Ave, closed its doors at the beginning of the year. The cafe and bar served up breakfast items like huevos rancheros and lunch items like cheeseburgers and sandwiches during their one-year stint at the location. They also had a selection of beers and cocktails.
La Yaquesita Tacos has since opened in the former L Station location.
Pizza Luna 🍕
Pictured is the 12-inch Puttanesca pizza from Pizza Luna, 1101 N. Wilmot Road.
Marc and Tracy Frankel opened up Pizza Luna near Speedway and Wilmot Road around five years ago. The duo brought true Neapolitan-style pizza to Tucson's east side.
Last year, the Frankels helped launch Bubbe's Bagels with Becca Groff and Kyle Leuer. As Bubbe's continued to gain traction in the community, the Frankels opted to close Pizza Luna in April.
Tucsonan Janine Smith commented on Pizza Luna's Facebook page: "Best pizza in town. Thank you for five years of deliciousness."
1702 Pizza and Craft Beer 🍕
Eric Lepie, owner of 1702 Pizza and Craft Beer near the UA campus in Tucson. 1702 closed after 15 years in business.
Many local pizzerias closed their doors this year including 1702 Pizza and Craft Beer located at 1702 E. Speedway. 1702 owner Eric Lepie made the decision to turn off the pizza oven for good in May when he wasn't able to fully recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Prior to opening the pizzeria 15 years ago, Lepie ran "his namesake restaurant and ice cream shop in the space" for 30 years, according to this #ThisIsTucson article.
On our Facebook post featuring the story announcing 1702's departure, Tucsonan Josh Williams commented: "So incredibly sad. 1702 has been an institute of Tucson!"
Sonoran Brunch Company 🥓
The wings and waffles, $10, at Sonoran Brunch Company had crunchy fried chicken wings with a housemade corn waffle.
The Sonoran Brunch Company opened up near Kolb Road and 22nd Street in 2019. The restaurant featured colorful murals created by local artists and breakfast food with an Arizona flair.
Sonoran Brunch Company closed in May, but regularly holds pop-up brunch events at Thunder Bacon Burger Co. on Fourth Avenue.
Ten55 Brewing Company (downtown location, another location is coming soon!) 🍺
A streetcar speeds past the patio area along the sidewalk entrance to Ten55 Brewing, 110 E. Congress.
Ten55 Brewing Company may have closed its doors to their downtown Tucson location at 110 E. Congress St. in May, but that doesn't mean they are closing up shop for good. The local brewing company is opening up again at a new location in Tucson this fall.
Tucsonan Avalon Lindgren commented on Ten55 Brewing Company's Facebook page: "I can't wait to see what the future holds for you! More great beer I'm sure."
Sullivan's Eatery & Creamery 🍨
Autumn Hand serves lunch orders at Sullivan's Eatery & Creamery.
Sullivan's Eatery & Creamery, located at 6444 N. Oracle Road, was a Tucson staple for 45 years. The retro restaurant served up burgers, ice cream sundaes and milkshakes. The restuarant closed this past summer after struggling to recover from the effects of the pandemic.
On the #ThisIsTucson's Facebook post announcing the closure of Sullivan's, Tucsonan Teresa Shorbe commented: "Noooooo! We love Sullivan's. Many happy family memories from my childhood and with my own children. Every year we celebrate the last day of school at Sullivan's."
Fat Noodle (brick-and-mortar location) 🍜
The Fat Noodle bowl of House Ramen features sonoran wheat house noodles, chicken and pork shoyu broth, pork chashu, soft egg, enoki, green onions, Fat Noodle sauce, sesame seeds and crispy onions at Fat Noodle ramen restaurant, 811 E. Wetmore Road, on October 11, 2018, in Tucson.
Fat Noodle isn't closing completely! Instead, they closed their brick-and-mortar location at 811 E. Wetmore Road in August to shift their focus toward their food truck.
The team behind Fat Noodle opened up the brick-and-mortar location four years ago.
"We look forward to catering your events and seeing your friendly faces," Fat Noodle posted on Facebook in August.
Primo 🍝
Primo at the JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort & Spa closed at the end of September.
Primo at the JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort & Spa closed on Sept. 30, with a new restaurant expected to take its place.
"It was a very difficult discussion and very mixed emotions," the resort’s marketing and sales manager Dan Padilla told the Star, of the decision to change directions at the restaurant.
Wings Over Broadway 🍗
Wings Over Broadway, 5004 E. Broadway - Courtesy of Google earth
After 15 years of business, Wings Over Broadway closed its doors earlier this month at its location at 8838 E. Broadway, which opened four years ago. Its original location at 5004 E. Broadway near Rosemont Boulevard closed years ago.
The business cited road construction and COVID-19 as reasons for the closure, as these conditions never allowed them to "run the business as we would’ve liked or needed to in the new space," they wrote on Facebook.
Tucsonan Daniel Kester commented on their post: "Thank you so much for running the best wing place in town! As one of your regulars I’m broken hearted but I wish you the very best in your next endeavor."
Donut Wheel (south-side location) 🍩
A “thank you" sign is taped to the front window at Donut Wheel, 4801 S. Campbell Ave.
Donut Wheel located at 4801 S. Campbell Ave. on Tucson's south side closed for good on Oct. 28, after 34 years of business.
"Sadly our landlord sold the building and land to a national chain and they are tearing the building down November 1st," Donut Wheel wrote on Facebook.
Tucsonan Silvia Cordova commented on their post: "This place was my very first job as a teenager. I'm sad to see it go. They make the best apple fritters."
The Donut Wheel location at 2630 S. Kolb Road (which is operated by a different owner) has also closed, but a sign posted on the door said the business will reopen in the Golf Links and Wilmot area in 2023.
Chef Chic 🥪
Wendy Gauthier, chef and owner of Chef Chic, preps meat for a southern hash at her restaurant. Gauthier won the 2019 Iron Chef Tucson title.
Chef Wendy Gauthier has embarked on a new adventure, accepting the executive chef position at The Lodge at Ventana Canyon. She closed the door to her brick and mortar Chef Chic, 1104 S. Wilmot Road, known for its grab-and-go meals and catering services.
Gauthier's Facebook post announcing the closure and new position was met with lots of congratulations from the community.
4 Seasons Restaurant 🍲
Thai restaurant 4 Seasons, 1423 W. Miracle Mile, closed its doors on Dec. 6 after nine years in business, they wrote on Facebook.
Facebook commenter Elizabeth Rollman said, "Just two weeks ago I finally took my daughter there. She has had great Thai food in Washington, D.C. and Austin. She was skeptical, but announced that the food at 4 Seasons was the best Thai she has ever had."
Mantis Gourmet Chinese Food 🥡
Mantis Gourmet Chinese Food, 8250 N. Cortaro Road, is shutting its doors on New Year's Eve, though they're hoping to reopen in a new location, according to Tucson Foodie.
Lots of Tucsonans shared their love for Mantis on Facebook, including Chef Travis Peters of The Parish, who said Mantis was one of his go-to spots during the pandemic.
Nosh Tucson (still open for catering though!) 🍪
Tina Marie Wilken’s favorite menu items are her cheesecakes, with inventive flavors from caramel apple pecan (pictured), to peanut butter dream.
In December, Nosh Tucson closed its brick-and-mortar bakery and transitioned back into catering and online orders. The brick-and-mortar space at 4695 N. Oracle Road will be used for events.
"We've decided to be tunneled vision on delivering excellence in service and quality food to our catering clients," Nosh Tucson posted on Facebook. "We will still do from-scratch bakery orders but we will revert back to the way we've done it in the past. You can order online (the fastest way) or give us a call during office hours."
Texas Burrito Company 🌯
El Tigre bowl is one of the dishes at Texas Burrito Company.
Combining Sonoran food with Texas-style barbecue, Texas Burrito Company opened this year at 1570 E. Tucson Marketplace Blvd.
Google reports that the business is permanently closed and it appears they haven't posted on Instagram since October. When visiting, there is no longer a sign on the building or entrance.
Buena Vida 🌯
Buena Vida Restaurant is located in the same building as the iconic Sahara Apartments.
Luchador-themed restaurant Buena Vida opened last year at 919 N. Stone Ave., serving tortas and burritos.
Google reports that the restaurant has permanently closed. When visiting, there is no longer a sign for Buena Vida on the building, and the business hasn't posted on Facebook since September.
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