On the Border’s fate following the popular eatery’s bankruptcy declaration has finally been revealed.
Pending court approval, Pappas Restaurants—which operates Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen, Pappasito’s Cantina, Pappas Bar-B-Q and Pappas Bros. Steakhouse—has been selected to acquire the flailing chain of Tex-Mex restaurants, the restaurant group has announced.
“We’re excited to welcome On The Border to the Pappas family,” Mike Rizzo, CEO of Pappas Restaurants, said in a statement. “On The Border is a brand with deep heritage and loyal guests, and we see tremendous opportunity to invest in its future. Our shared Texas roots and passion for hospitality make this a natural fit.”
It sounds like Pappas plans to maintain On the Border’s original iconic and recognizable branding, with plans to “strengthen and modernize” On The Border locations” existing locations, with the announcement promising that “Pappas Restaurants will explore ways to enhance On The Border’s menu, operations, and guest experience while honoring the brand’s history and fan-favorite offerings.”
“On The Border has always stood out for its energy and bold flavors—it’s a brand we’ve known and respected for years,” Chris Pappas, co-owner of Pappas Restaurants, added. “This gives us the chance to bring our passion for Tex-Mex to more guests, and we’re excited to build on what makes both brands special.”
The Atlanta-based Mexican grill & cantina filed for bankruptcy protections back in March, citing “inflation” and “changing customer behavior” as causes of the impending bankruptcy filing.
Before that original protection request, the chain had already closed 40 locations, with 60 remaining across 18 states, plus 20 additional franchisee locations in the United States and South Korea. That’s down from 150 locations at its peak.
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