Posted 2:55 pm Wednesday, September 08, 2010
Cancun Mexican Restaurant In Tyler Closes
KYTX CBS19 VIDEO
From KYTX CBS19
The Cancun Mexican Restaurant on the Loop in Tyler has closed its doors, leaving about 20 people without a job.
The Cancun Mexican Restaurant on the Loop in Tyler has closed its doors, leaving about 20 people without a job.
The restaurant is located near the Loop and Troup Highway. Owners are chalking it up to the economy and location.
The doors were locked for the last time at Cancun at the end of business last night, after nearly seven years.
The office manager says there were several factors and a lot of it comes down to location, location, location. "We went there a lot, and we're sorry it's closing down. It was good," says Rita Clark.
Rita Clark and her husband ate here about once a week.
"The food was great, service was great and the last time I went there I was very impressed because the guy, the owner, was standing there making sure everything was done the way it should be," says Clark.
But the office manager for Yin Investments, which owns Cancun, says too many people were passing up the business because of the economy and medians.
"People could no longer make a left turn into the business and only way to get there was to go to the spur, half a mile away and come back. Not enough people wanted to do that," says Steve Knipe, the office manager for Yin Investments that owns Cancun, as well as 5 other restaurants in East Texas including Carreta's in Tyler.
He says they couldn't fill the seats, and that meant more than $100,000 lost in the last year.
"Not enough regular customers to come in and support, pay the bills," says Knipe.
"My menu item was the grilled shrimp and fajitas," says Clark.
Customers like Clark will have to find a new place to eat where the lights are still on and the doors aren't locked.
"Yes, yes. On this side of town! Yes," says Clark.
We did speak with the Tyler Economic Development Council, and Tom Mullins says, "A lot of changing goes on the restaurant business, and it may or may not be related to the overall economy."
And he points out many restaurants in the area that are doing well, despite the economy and medians.
However, the president of the Tyler Restaurant Association says the economy has hurt everyone in the business.
The office manager added that they are not sure whether they will sell the property or keep it just yet, and adds there could be another venue opened in the same place, that could possibly draw more people.
The national restaurant association says in the last 2 years people have decreased their dinning out habits by about 50 percent.
That means the average American consumes one of every 2 meals at home.
The office manager says there were several factors and a lot of it comes down to location, location, location. "We went there a lot, and we're sorry it's closing down. It was good," says Rita Clark.
Rita Clark and her husband ate here about once a week.
"The food was great, service was great and the last time I went there I was very impressed because the guy, the owner, was standing there making sure everything was done the way it should be," says Clark.
But the office manager for Yin Investments, which owns Cancun, says too many people were passing up the business because of the economy and medians.
"People could no longer make a left turn into the business and only way to get there was to go to the spur, half a mile away and come back. Not enough people wanted to do that," says Steve Knipe, the office manager for Yin Investments that owns Cancun, as well as 5 other restaurants in East Texas including Carreta's in Tyler.
He says they couldn't fill the seats, and that meant more than $100,000 lost in the last year.
"Not enough regular customers to come in and support, pay the bills," says Knipe.
"My menu item was the grilled shrimp and fajitas," says Clark.
Customers like Clark will have to find a new place to eat where the lights are still on and the doors aren't locked.
"Yes, yes. On this side of town! Yes," says Clark.
We did speak with the Tyler Economic Development Council, and Tom Mullins says, "A lot of changing goes on the restaurant business, and it may or may not be related to the overall economy."
And he points out many restaurants in the area that are doing well, despite the economy and medians.
However, the president of the Tyler Restaurant Association says the economy has hurt everyone in the business.
The office manager added that they are not sure whether they will sell the property or keep it just yet, and adds there could be another venue opened in the same place, that could possibly draw more people.
The national restaurant association says in the last 2 years people have decreased their dinning out habits by about 50 percent.
That means the average American consumes one of every 2 meals at home.
