Tijuana Flats, the Central Florida-based restaurant chain, announced it closed 11 of its locations after being acquired by new owners.
Flatheads, LLC acquired the brand with hopes of “revitalizing its restaurants and reinvigorating the customer experience,” according to a news release.
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In addition to announcing new owners, the company said that it has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
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“Our company is excited by the new ownership group’s plan to reinvest, focus, and emphasize the things that originally brought so many people to love Tijuana Flats,” said Joe Christina, Chief Executive Officer of Tijuana Flats. “We understand the immediate financial actions taken by them to ensure the long-term health of this great and iconic brand.”
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Christina joined the brand in 2022 and is slated to remain as CEO, according to the release.
The restaurant chain did not specify which 11 locations closed.
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Tijuana Flats was founded in 1995 by UCF student Brian Wheeler with the first location in Winter Park. Wheeler sold the business in 2015.
“While it’s disheartening to see the current state of Tijuana Flats, it’s important to know my direct involvement with the company ended in 2015 when I sold it to a private equity group,” Wheeler said in a statement. “At the time of the sale, Tijuana Flats had grown to over 140 locations across five states and comprised a team of 3,000 employees. I had confidence in the new management’s capability and resources to further elevate the brand. It’s truly heartbreaking to witness the careers and livelihoods of so many dedicated individuals affected by the unforeseen downturn of something I had devoted the majority of my life.”
Wheeler recently opened a new restaurant with his son, Jake Wheeler. Big Taco opened in November 2023 in Casselberry.
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