Don Pablo's

Don Pablo's
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryRestaurants
Founded1985; 39 years ago (1985) in Lubbock, Texas
DefunctJune 23, 2019; 5 years ago (2019-06-23)
FateClosure by parent
HeadquartersSan Antonio, Texas
Number of locations
120 (at its peak in 1998)
Area served
Midwest, East Coast, Southern United States
ProductsBurritos, Tacos, Quesadillas, Fajitas, Enchiladas
OwnerFood Management Partners
WebsiteLast archive of official website (June 2019)

Don Pablo's was an American chain of Tex-Mex restaurants founded in Lubbock, Texas, in 1985.[1] The menu featured Tex-Mex items, made-from-scratch salsa, tortillas and sauces, and a range of other Mexican specialties. At one time, this chain had as many as 120 locations throughout the United States and was the second largest full-service Mexican restaurant chain within the United States during the late 1990s, second only to Chi-Chi's.[2] The chain had 34 restaurants in 14 states when it was acquired in 2014 by Food Management Partners.[3] By October 2016, the chain was reduced to 12 restaurants in 9 states,[4] 6 restaurants in 4 states by July 2018,[5] 5 restaurants in 3 states by September 2018,[6] and later 3 restaurants in 3 states by November 2018.[7] The remaining restaurants in the struggling chain gradually and quietly closed over the next seven months until the last restaurant in Deptford Township, New Jersey, finally closed on June 23, 2019.

  1. ^ "Don Pablo's Wins 'Best Mexican Restaurant' in Restaurants & Institutions' 'Choice in Chains' Awards". Business Wire (Press release). August 8, 2006.
  2. ^ Gibson, Richard (September 23, 1998). "Applebee's Hopes to Determine Direction For Ailing Rio Bravo Chain by Year End". The Wall Street Journal (Eastern ed.). p. B11C. Archived from the original on 2015-06-20. [Lawrence M. Folk] resigned in August from Apple South Inc., where he had been president of its Don Pablo's Mexican restaurant division. Until recently, Apple South was the largest franchisee of Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar restaurants, but decided to shed its Applebee's outlets to concentrate on what it considered better growth opportunities, among them Don Pablo's. Don Pablo's now has 117 units, second only to closely held Family Restaurants Inc.' Chi-Chi's chain in the Mexican-style restaurant sector. Alternate Link(subscription required) via ProQuest.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference nrn-2014jan31 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference kitv-2016oct04 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ "Locations". Don Pablo's. Archived from the original on 2018-07-28.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference dnj-2018sep25 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference locations-2018-11-12 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).