The restaurant industry is a volatile one, and it’s always sad when a popular eating spot, whether it’s local or a national chain restaurant, closes its doors. That’s especially true if that restaurant has been around for decades.
According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, via the National Restaurant Association, eating and drinking places added 16,600 jobs in April on a seasonally-adjusted basis. In March, eating and drinking places added more than 30,000 jobs, which marked the largest monthly increase since December of 2024.
While it’s great to see jobs numbers in the restaurant industry going up in March and April, it’s worth noting that 66,000 jobs were lost in the industry during the first two months of 2025. Overall, according to the National Restaurant Association, payrolls have decreased by 19,000 jobs since the beginning of 2025. With that in mind, it’s easy to see why some establishments are struggling.
Now, a popular Texas restaurant chain is closing all of its locations following two decades of dining bliss. Fernando’s Mexican Cuisine has announced that it will close both of its Dallas locations in the Village of Preston Hollow and the CityLine shopping area on May 18.
“After twenty years of operations and five months of lease negotiations at our Dallas location, we were unable to reach a new lease agreement with the landlord,” Fernando’s managing partner, Anne Cowden, said in a statement. “With the Richardson lease also expiring soon, this is the appropriate time to close both restaurants.”
Cowden also thanked customers for their longtime dedication to the restaurant, stating that it’s “difficult to adequately express the gratitude that we feel for every guest, every regular, every shared plate of nachos and every round of margaritas.”
“We’ve watched children grow into adults, bringing their own families to create new memories within these walls,” Cowden added. “Our restaurants became a generational favorite, and that’s a legacy we will cherish forever.”
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