Uncle Julio's Mexican from Scratch has now confirmed that its two previously "temporarily closed" Atlanta area restaurants are in fact closed permanently. The restaurants, located along Peachtree Road in south Buckhead and on Peachtree Dunwoody Road in Sandy Springs, both still display COVID-19 related temporary closure signage, but both have also now been deleted from the restaurant's location listings, and old links to the respective Atlanta area locations now indicate that both are permanently closed.
ToNeTo Atlanta researched the status of both locations ahead of our recent exclusive report on the closures of two local Ted's Montana Grill locations, one of which was neighbors with Uncle Julio's. At that time, both locations were still listed on the company's website as "temporarily closed," but alas something must have changed earlier this week. The Peachtree Road location (as well as the Ted's next door) were due to close later this year to make way for a new Shepherd Center development and expansion. The closure in Sandy Springs, the newer of the two units, having opened in late 2009, was unexpected.
The Sandy Springs closure is especially sad when you consider that it had been among the most consistent tenants in the Perimeter Town Center project. Asian concept R Rice, cupcake shop Gigi's, and pasta joint FIGO, are all long gone with Uncle Julio's and its roughly 7,000 square foot space the only original tenant left in the center. ToNeTo Atlanta first reported March 7, just ahead of the pandemic, that Primo Hoagies, which had replaced Gigi's, had called it quits after less than a year in business.
According to a cached message from the Peachtree Road Uncle Julio's location's website, the restaurant was seemingly still hawking their gift cards until very recently.
"While we are closed, we're still offering gift cards during this time to purchase for friends, family, or yourself for a future date when we are open again."
Following the Atlanta closures, the next nearest Uncle Julio's to metro Atlanta would be about four hours away in Brentwood, Tennessee. At least five other locations including those in Orlando, Florida, Raleigh, North Carolina, and three in Illinois, all remain "temporarily closed."
Greenwich, Connecticut-based private equity from L Catterton purchased then 29-unit Uncle Julio's in late 2017 to "accelerate growth." If all other locations remain open/reopen, the chain will have 35 units across eleven states.
Are you surprised to see Uncle Julio's completely leave the Atlanta market? Between Uncle Julio's and Chuy's. which did you prefer? What would you like to see open in place of the Uncle Julio's in Sandy Springs?
Pleas share your thoughts below.