JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — After eight months, a Tampa-based fast-casual Tex-Mex restaurant abruptly closed its inaugural Jacksonville restaurant.
Capital Tacos shut its doors at 12220 Atlantic Blvd., No. 109, in Atlantic-Kernan Shops retail center. A sign taped to the front door thanked customers for their patronage.
The restaurant which opened in February was known for its signature Mayport shrimp tacos and "Bottoms Up Draft Beer System."
Neither franchise co-owners James Muller and Brenna Demetree nor company officials could be reached immediately for comment.
Capital Tacos had renovated the storefront that previously housed Sid & Linda's Seafood Market and Restaurant, the popular mom-and-pop seafood restaurant that closed last May after a decade.
It was the restaurant chain's first location in Northeast Florida and only the fourth franchise in the company, Muller told the Times-Union when the restaurant opened.
Capital Tacos is known for its made-from-scratch and grilled-to-order menu that includes tacos, burritos, quesadillas and bowls as well as hand-cut tortilla chips, homemade queso and salsas, Mexican street corn on the husk, hand-spiced fries and desserts.
Muller previously said Capital Tacos is the first Jacksonville restaurant with the Bottoms Up Draft Beer System. The system uses a specially designed cup to achieve the "perfect pour" — filling the cup with the precise amount of beer without overflowing.
The Jacksonville location featured an open kitchen, spacious dining area, a pinball machine, a children's play area with a theme inspired by the children's book "Dragons Love Tacos," and a chalk wall for kids to exercise their artistic skills.
Capital Tacos entered the Jacksonville market as two of its potential competitors downsized via abrupt, unrelated closures of some of their locations. Those closures included four longtime Tijuana Flats locations and the original Burrito Gallery in downtown Jacksonville.
This story was first published by our news partners at the Florida Times-Union.
