'Thank you for 18 years': Downtown Jacksonville restaurant abruptly closes on Wednesday

After 18 years, a downtown Jacksonville restaurant abruptly closed Wednesday to the shock and dismay of longtime customers who discovered the front door locked and its windows covered.

In a sign on its front door, Burrito Gallery thanked its longtime customers at the 21 E. Adams St. restaurant and referred them to its other locations.

"Thank you for 18 years of great memories! With heavy hearts we have made the decision to close this Burrito Gallery location. We have and will always value your local support that has been shared with us over the years …" the sign read.

The restaurant — which opened just before Super Bowl XXXIX in February 2005 — was known for its "Jax Mex" menu of burritos, quesadillas, tacos and more.

The owner couldn't be reached for comment immediately. And an employee declined to comment as she went inside the shuttered restaurant Wednesday afternoon.

Workers at neighboring offices, however, told the Times-Union that business at the restaurant appeared to have dwindled significantly in recent months.

The Adams Street restaurant's closure comes roughly three months after Burrito Gallery abruptly closed its restaurant in Jacksonville Beach at 300 Beach Blvd., No. 1.

Longtime customer Catherine Paez came for a late lunch Wednesday only to discover the restaurant closed. Burrito Gallery, she said, used to be her "favorite spot" for lunch because she could sit outside on the patio.

Paez said she would eat at the restaurant once a week, including a visit in recent days. There was no indication, she said, that it planned to close.

"It's just a shame because they had good food," Paez said.

In the sign taped to its door, Burrito Gallery asked guests to visit its other locations at 90 Riverside Ave. in Brooklyn Station and 5016 Gate Parkway near St. Johns Town Center. It also recommended Uptown Kitchen, 1303 N Main St., in the historic Springfield neighborhood. Both concepts are owned by Gallery Restaurant Group.

The sign also signaled that a new concept could be coming to the location: "Please stay tuned for an exciting new venue coming your way!"

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It was unknown whether the closure of the downtown location would affect previously announced plans to open a new restaurant at Jacksonville International Airport as part of the planned Concourse B addition there.

The restaurant's closure follows other notable closings in the first weeks of the year, including Lee's Dragon on Lane Avenue, Woody’s Bar-B-Q in Ponte Vedra Beach and Mr. Potato Spread on Philips Highway.

Teresa Stepzinski is the dining reporter for the Times-Union. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @TeresaStepz or reach her via email at tstepzinski@jacksonville.com.

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This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Burrito Gallery closes in downtown Jacksonville after 18 years