Tex-Mex Down
Dallas Mexican restaurant with famed brunch closes rocky location
Just over five years to the day it opened, Blue Mesa Grill in Arlington has closed. Part of the Mesa SW family of restaurants, Blue Mesa is the concept known for its pioneering role in the brunch world, as well as its sweet potato chips and shake-your-own margaritas.
The restaurant opened in March 2013 at Lincoln Square, in an old Talbot's. Times have been tough at Lincoln Square.
Blue Mesa founder and CEO Jim Baron says in a release that there just wasn't enough business.
"We are sad to leave this location and our loyal customers there," Baron says. "But we did not foresee any improvement in our in-restaurant lunch and dinner business."
Oddly, the company is doing just fine in Arlington with catering jobs. "Our Arlington party and event business is thriving and that's where we see our future growth," Baron says.
Accommodating the catering demands was a factor in the newly-opened flagship Blue Mesa Grill and 5th & Carroll Events in Fort Worth. "That location is more than able to provide catering services for Arlington, and for that reason, it did not make sense for us the keep paying rent and other occupancy costs in Arlington," Baron says.
Four Blue Mesa Grill locations remain in the area, in Addison, Plano, Fort Worth, and Dallas, across from NorthPark Center.
Mesa SW Restaurants also owns and operates a Blue Mesa Taco and Tequila Bar, which has two airport locations including Terminal E at DFW Airport, and two of their more casual concepts, TNT Tacos and Tequila, which has locations at the Quadrangle in Uptown Dallas and in Austin.
