Last week Bud Kennedy posted on his Eats Beat page that Escondido, "the best Tex-Mex dive in Dallas, has closed ... Loved it dearly."
I contacted William Pacheco with the restaurant about the closing and he explained that when they heard the new Parkland Hospital was going to be built next door they "knew soon enough the owner [of the property] would end up selling to Parkland or thought the city would take the property over for Parkland."
Over the last year, they watched as one by one surrounding buildings came down but stayed the course. Finally on March 21 the original owner, Juan Herrera, was given notice they had 60 days to vacate.
"The owner of the land did not sell, but rather partnered up with a parking garage company," Pacheco said. "So sometime this year, there will be a parking garage at the corner of Bulter and Redfield where Escondido stood for 38 years under the same family ownership."
When asked if they're walking away from the restaurant business completely in Dallas, (they also have a restaurant in Van Alstyne) Pacheco says that is very unlikely. "Our second family, our great customers, would never allow us. I'm the second generation Escondido owner and plan to keep my kitchen open as long as I am permitted. We're looking for a new home."
They already have their eye on one spot, but aren't sure if it will work out (and it's way too early for details). You know what they say, "Location. Location. Location ... unless someone puts up a parking lot."
