Mexican restaurant in downtown Fort Worth closes; West 7th brewpub up for sale

June 17,2020

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See full Fort Worth Star-Telegram article by Bud Kennedy here.

Cantina Laredo has become the second downtown anchor restaurant to close as the coronavirus recession continues to affect restaurants.

The Fort Worth location in The Tower, 530 Throckmorton St., is no longer listed on the company website, and former employees posting on social media say it has closed.

A publicist for Dallas-based Consolidated Restaurant Operations did not respond to an emailed question. The company also owns El Chico, Cantina Laredo’s spiritual ancestor, along with other restaurants that remain open, including a Silver Fox Steakhouse in Fort Worth.

Cantina Laredo is the second anchor restaurant to close downtown, following Bird Cafe.

Cantina Laredo is also the second flashy Tex-Mex restaurant to close downtown in the last year. Meso Maya, owned by the El Fenix chain, closed a Main Street location before coronavirus hit.

Zack Moutaouakil, owner of the Mercury Chop House steakhouse next door, said the closing wasn’t a surprise.

“The downtown dynamic has changed,” he said.

“People are working at home and not coming downtown. .... I’m still opening for dinner, but there aren’t as many people out moving around.”

Nearby, Toro Toro Pan Latin Steakhouse has announced a June 22 reopening in the Renaissance Worthington hotel.

Also, according to a real estate sales website, owners of Deep Ellum Brewing Co. are trying to sell their Funkytown Fermatorium west Fort Worth location.

While it’s on the market, the brewpub-restaurant could still reopen at 611 University Drive.