Summer has arrived in Tucson and itβs hot and brutal for everyone β including local eateries who struggle to keep their doors open during the cityβs slowest months of the year.
Here are 11 local restaurants that have shut their doors in 2023 so far, listed in alphabetical order.
Brawleyβs Restaurant
Brawleyβs Restaurant located at 7848 E. Wrightstown Road closed in February after 37 years in business.
βThere is no one to blame, and really nothing to be done, it's just a simple sign of the times,β Brawleyβs wrote on Facebook.
China Phoenix
Tucson has very few options for dim sum and with the apparent closure of China Phoenix, 7090 N. Oracle Road, there are now even less. We hope the closure is temporary, but when we visited on July 1, a sign was taped to the window stating: "Lease expired. Restaurant will be closed." Tables were no longer set up inside and two phone calls to the number on their website went unanswered.
Citizen Hotel
After a year in business, the Citizen Hotel, located at 82 S. Stone Ave. closed its doors in May. The boutique wine hotel featured a lobby bar, plus a wine cellar in the basement and wine tastings in the mezzanine.Β
βThe closing comes nearly 15 months to the day that the hotel opened and coincides with Tucson businesses bracing for the annual summer slowdown. Thatβs when tourism dramatically drops, and the city loses its reliable revenue stream from the loss of University of Arizona students and winter residents,β the Arizona Daily Star reported.
Da Boots BBQ Shop
Da Boots BBQ closed its doors earlier this year at 1830 S. Park Ave. but said they are βconverting to a mobile operation,β according to a post on theirΒ Facebook page.
Deliciocho
Deliciocho, located at 6308 S. Nogales Highway, known for its creative raspados and birria tacos, announced its closure on June 28. The south-side establishment opened in April 2021.
βDue to this economic crisis we are going through. After almost 3 years of keeping our doors open and serving up some of the most unique menu items in Tucson,β they wrote on Instagram.
Fiesta FilipinaΒ
Fiesta Filipinaβs brick-and-mortar location in the food court ofΒ Park Place Mall, 5870 E. Broadway,Β closed on June 18. Fiesta Filipina decided to go down the brick-and-mortar route in 2021 after running a food truck for three years prior.
Thelma Ward, the owner of Fiesta Filipina announced the closure on Facebook on June 19. βI will still be operating the Fiesta Filipina food trailer for special events and catering so watch for our events schedule,β she wrote.
Fullyloveβs
Fullyloveβs in Main Gate Square, 994 E. University Boulevard,Β opened its doors in the spring of 2021. After a little over two years of serving up burgers, fries and vegan food, the joint closed in June.
βThe love and support we received from our community is unmatched and will be cherished. We will be taking this time to be with our family and prepare for our next chapter and will no longer be on University Blvd,β they wrote on Facebook.
Little Love Burger
Little Love Burger located at 312 E. Congress St. in downtown Tucson opened in the fall of 2021. The fun burger joint was created by the team behind Hub Restaurant and Playground Bar & Lounge.
Little Love Burger officially closed on June 18.
βAfter serving you with love for several years, we hand the keys to the sacred 312 East Congress space to Gabriel and Vivian Moreno, of Jaimeβs Pizza Kitchen. A multigenerational Tucson family business since 1989, Jaimeβs Pizza Kitchen will be opening soon, serving amazing traditional pizza, wings, and salads,β Little Love Burger said on Facebook.
Pastiche Modern Eatery
Anthonie Ruinard, Pastiche's most recent owner,Β was arrestedΒ in connection with the June killing ofΒ 18-year-old Parker League near Apache Junction.
Ruinard had owned the 25-year-old restaurant since 2021, after buying it fromΒ Costas and Judie Georgacas.Β The Georgacases ran the restaurant for four years after buying it in 2017 from the family of the original owner Pat Connors weeks after Connors died of cancer.
Pastiche,Β 3025 N. Campbell Ave.,Β last posted onΒ FacebookΒ in February, citing water damage and repairs for a temporary closure. The sign on the building has been taken down and a notice of a landlord's lien, dated in February, was seen hanging in the window.
Ten55 Brewing Company
After a decade in business, Ten55 decided to βdiscontinue all of its operations,β Tucson Foodie first reported earlier this year. The brewery was set to open a new location in midtown after leaving its downtown digs at 110 E. Congress St. last year, but the new place never came to fruition.
The Lobby
The Lobby, located at 811 E. Wetmore Road, closed earlier this year after four months in business. The restaurant sold classic feel-good food like burgers, wings and milkshakes.Β