Renowned Denver chef Dana Rodriguez has chosen to shut down one of her restaurants.
Cantina Loca, located at 2890 Zuni St., was launched in January 2022 and was described as Rodriguez’s initial independent restaurant endeavor. It focused on tacos, tequila, and mezcal. As of Thursday, it has ceased operations. Cantina Loca is up for sale with the intention of transferring the lease to the buyer, according to a spokesperson.
In a statement to The Denver Post, Rodriguez attributed the closure to the challenging post-pandemic environment.
“Although we started well, our number of customers declined over the past two years while food costs and labor expenses soared. Cantina Loca, like many other Denver restaurants, is a regretful casualty of circumstances beyond our control,” she explained.
“We are very grateful for the support of our loyal customers and are eager to continue serving them at our other restaurant concepts,” she added.
The statement indicates that her other dining establishments – Work & Class and Super Mega Bien – are still in operation. Rodriguez has received multiple nominations for James Beard Awards associated with those restaurants.
Rodriguez also continues to serve as the chef at Casa Bonita in Lakewood, which she helped reinvigorate.
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