After more than three decades of serving iconic Southwestern and Tex-Mex cuisine, Z’Tejas, a beloved restaurant chain originating in Texas, has permanently closed its doors. The final closure took place at the last remaining Z’Tejas location in Kyle, Texas, on June 30, marking the end of a significant chapter in the state’s culinary history. This decision was influenced by a combination of expired leases and challenging market conditions, as indicated in a farewell note from the chain.
Z’Tejas was founded in 1989 in Austin, Texas, on Sixth Street, at a time when Southwestern cuisine was beginning to gain national attention, partly due to culinary pioneers like Houston’s Robert Del Grande. The restaurant’s founding team included notable names such as Paul Fleming of Fleming Restaurants, and Austin restaurateurs Guy Villavaso and Larry Foles. Under the culinary direction of founding chef Jack Gilmore, Z’Tejas quickly became a sought-after dining destination, eventually expanding to 14 locations across Texas, California, and Arizona, with its headquarters established in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Despite its initial success and expansion, Z’Tejas faced significant challenges in the mid-2010s, undergoing ownership changes and multiple bankruptcy proceedings. In 2017, Cornbread Ventures, an Austin-based firm, acquired the chain. However, by 2023, the original Austin location closed due to landowner disputes, and attempts to sell the remaining locations failed to attract buyers, leading to the final shutdown.
Randy Cohen of Cornbread Ventures expressed the difficulties faced by the restaurant industry, emphasizing the need for consistent execution and adaptability. Despite the closure, the legacy of Z’Tejas and its contribution to southwestern cuisine remains deeply ingrained in the culinary landscape of Texas.