Pasta News

Italian restaurant chain Buca di Beppo files for bankruptcy in Dallas

Lasagne at Bica di Beppo.

www.bucadibeppo.com

Hurry and get you some lasagna: Italian restaurant concept Buca di Beppo has filed for bankruptcy in a Dallas court.

According to a release, the Orlando-based Italian chain voluntarily filed for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas.

Their goal is to use the bankruptcy process to find a potential buyer, with a deadline of 75 days from the filing date to get a deal approved.

The bankruptcy filing follows the July 30 closure of 13 locations by their parent company Early Enterprises — locations which had been unable to recover from the pandemic. Among the closures was a location in Austin at 3612 Tudor Blvd. — their only location in Austin.

There are now 44 locations open, including four in Texas: three in DFW — Dallas, Frisco, and Southlake — and one in Houston. Those are not in peril, according to a spokesperson who said in an email that, "there is currently no definite plan to close further locations. The company will continue to evaluate the situation as they progress through the bankruptcy proceeding."

But hey, it's not all bad news: They're even in the process of opening a new location.

"This is a strategic step towards a strong future for Buca di Beppo," says president Rich Saultz in a statement. "While the restaurant industry has faced significant challenges, this move is the best next step for our brand. .. Buca di Beppo has been a beloved gathering place for celebrations and memorable meals for many years, and we are enthusiastic about entering this next phase of our brand's story."

Buca di Beppo restaurants embody the Italian traditions of food, friendship, fun, celebration, and hospitality. The menu features both Northern and Southern Italian favorites and cocktails, but is equally famous for its quirky decor and raucous atmosphere — an over-the-top experience with enormous portions served family-style, Dean Martin singing in the background, and deliberately tacky decor featuring framed family photos, gaudy wallpaper, Xmas lights, and a "Pope Room" — a group dining room honoring the Pope.

During the pandemic, the Dallas-area Buca di Beppo locations were among many that transformed into hubs for delivery-only virtual brands such as chicken-wing concept Wing Squad and Guy Fieri's Flavortown Kitchen, from Virtual Dining Concepts, an affiliate of Earl Enterprises.

William Snyder, Chief Restructuring Officer of Buca C, LLC, stated: "We believe this path will best allow us to continue to serve Buca's patrons and communities for many years to come. We are open for business in 44 locations, and we expect day-to-day operations to continue uninterrupted. We anticipate moving through this process as quickly and efficiently as possible to emerge as a stronger organization built for the future."

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Tex-Mex News

Dallas Tex-Mex chain Uncle Julio's closes short-lived Frisco location

Uncle Julio's

Tex-Mex spread at Uncle Julio's

An ill-fated restaurant in Frisco has pulled the plug: Uncle Julio's, the Dallas-based Tex-Mex chain, closed its location by Stonebriar Center at 2401 Preston Rd. in mid-May, after only two years.

According to a release, the location closed due to lease issues.

"While the company explored every opportunity to continue operating at the location, the closure ultimately follows unresolved lease-related matters with the property," their statement said. "The decision was not made lightly, and the brand remains deeply appreciative of the loyal guest base that made the restaurant part of their traditions for so many years."

Their PR representative did not respond to a query for further comment.

The closure marked the final chapter in a prolonged journey that began in 2022 when plans for the location were first revealed. The opening date was originally targeted to be the second half of 2022 but construction dragged, and the restaurant did not open until April 2024.

Their menu features prototypical Tex-Mex favorites including fajitas, tacos, carne asada, enchiladas, quesadillas, tamales, nachos, and queso, plus specialties such as their bacon-wrapped shrimp. There are margaritas in varieties that include frozen, swirl, and special-edition fruity flavors such as strawberry.

In more recent years, they became known for their chocolate pinata, an interactive dish they introduced in 2016 featuring a hanging chocolate globe filled with churros and fruit that diners crack open with a hammer.

Uncle Julio's was founded in 1986 by a trio that included Rusty Fenton, who went on to open the Rusty Taco chain before passing away in 2013. Uncle Julio's experienced another tragedy when its president, Harper Caron, died in 2021 at age 45; he'd worked for the company for 25 years, moving up the ranks to become president in September 2019. The company called his passing "a profound loss."

The chain was acquired in 2017 by private equity firm L. Catterton, who subsequently sold it in December 2024 in a foreclosure auction to Sun Holdings, a Dallas-based company that owns Taco Bueno and Freebirds, and who more recently acquired the Bar Louie chain in October 2025, also in bankruptcy proceedings.

There are currently 33 Uncle Julio's locations, with six in the DFW area including the original location on Lemmon Avenue, plus Keller Springs, Allen, Arlington, Grapevine, and Fort Worth.

In a statement, Uncle Julio's VP John Herrera said that the company was grateful to the Frisco community for their loyalty and support.

"This location has meant so much to our team, and we are proud of the relationships built here," Herrera said. "While this chapter is coming to a close, our commitment to serving the DFW community remains as strong as ever.”

tex-mex closings