The Torchy’s Tacos location on Guadalupe Street will close on Nov. 19 after 16 years of service.
The business’ lease will expire in November. The company decided not to renew its contract due to “changes in the area,” according to the company’s official statement. Morgan Hendrix, Torchy’s PR manager, said in an email there were a “handful of development plans” on Guadalupe Street that affected the decision and that the company was “unable to comment” on what those were.
An anonymous Torchy’s employee said staff members were told in September during a meeting the restaurant would close because the combination of rent prices and the restaurant’s income made it unfeasible for the company. The employee also said Austin Light Rail Phase 1, a city effort to build a light rail that will span Guadalupe Street, was another factor staff members believed played a role in the business’ decision to close the establishment.
“I really loved that location,” the anonymous employee said. “I got to know the staff. I’m really sad that (the closure is) happening because I would love to keep working there … Having Torchy’s as a (financial) backbone would really help me, but I won’t have that anymore.”
Jessica Kirker, vice president of Torchy’s Tacos’ legal department, said at an Oct. 10 Austin City Council meeting that the company could consider closing its Congress Avenue location due to similar cost-related circumstances.
Ryan Hirokawa, a doctoral musical arts student, said Torchy’s on Guadalupe Street was one of the first restaurants he visited when he moved to Austin for school. He was surprised when he found out the establishment would close, he said.
“It just seems like a pretty convenient location for students,” Hirokawa said. “There’s a good amount of people that are coming and going in there all the time. It’s such an established taco chain here in Austin. You wouldn’t think they would be closing down one of the restaurants.”
Hirokawa said he would miss Torchy’s proximity to campus because the location was convenient for him to visit.
“It’s always been a reliable place,” Hirokawa said. “You’ll be able to go there and be able to eat something that will satisfy you and overall, have a good hangout.”
The business is working to support employees and transfer them to other locations, according to the company’s official statement. The anonymous employee said this process began this week.
Torchy’s comprised over 50% of the anonymous employee’s income. Despite being disappointed with the closure, they said they enjoyed their time working there.
“(Our workplace) really is a family,” the anonymous employee said. “Some of the workers have been there for five-plus years. The majority of them were responsible and got their stuff done. Some of them were friends to me.”
