On the Border was saved from bankruptcy by Pallas Restaurants last year but closed all operations on Friday, June 12
Credit: Smith Collection/Gado/Getty
NEED TO KNOW
- On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina closed all of its company-owned restaurants across the U.S. on Friday, June 12
- The Tex-Mex chain, which was founded in Dallas in 1982, was bought by Pappas Restaurants in 2025 after it filed for bankruptcy
- Franchise locations in California, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota and South Korea will remain open
On the Border Mexican Grill & Cantina has closed all of its company-owned restaurants across the United States.
The Tex-Mex restaurant chain was founded in Dallas in 1982 and offered "border-style Tex-Mex cuisine," including fajitas, tacos and margaritas, The Independent reported.
The chain filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in March 2025, per USA Today, resulting in the closure of more than 70 of its locations.
Many of the restaurants reopened when Pappas Restaurants, based in Houston, brought the chain into its portfolio following an auction process two months later. It took on 60 locations in the U.S. and 20 franchised locations in South Korea, per Fast Company.
Credit: Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty
However, the magazine reported that a number of locations had closed over the past year, and On The Border announced on Friday, June 12 that it would be closing all company-owned locations and will evaluate the brand's future.
"On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina has made the difficult decision to move forward with a significant transition in its restaurant operations, which will include the closing of company-owned locations by end of day Friday, June 12, 2026," OTB Hospitality, the chain's corporate management group, told Fast Company in a statement.
OTB Hospitality did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.
The same day, Fast Company reported that 33 locations across the U.S. were listed on the chain's website.
The restaurant also announced the closures on its website, telling customers: "After many years of serving our communities, On the Border Mexican Grill & Cantina has closed its company-owned restaurant locations."
The note continued: "This was an incredibly tough decision. We are deeply grateful to the guests and team members who supported On The Border for so many years. Thank you to everyone who has been part of this journey."
The decision to close "follows a thorough evaluation of the business and was not made lightly," OTB Hospitality told USA Today.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
OTB Hospitality added in its statement, per the outlet, that franchise locations in California, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota will remain open, as will the South Korean restaurants, as they operate on an independent basis.
Read the full article here
