CAPITAL STRIKE

Rubio’s Coastal Grill closes over a dozen San Diego-area stores, surprising both workers and customers,  citing the “rising cost of doing business” in the state.

Danielle Dawson
Sat, Jun 1, 2024, 


SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — More than a dozen Rubio’s Coastal Grill locations across San Diego County abruptly closed this week, surprising both workers and customers.

In a statement sent to FOX 5/KUSI on Saturday, the Mexican food chain confirmed the closures to 13 local stores, as well as 35 other “underperforming” locations across California, citing the “rising cost of doing business” in the state.

“Making the decision to close a store is never an easy one,” a spokesperson for Rubio’s Coastal Grill said, adding the move came “after a thorough review of its operations and the current business climate.”

“While painful, the store closures are a necessary step in our strategic long-term plan to position Rubio’s for success for years to come,” the spokesperson continued.

However, the move has still drawn pushback from purported customers and workers on the chain’s social media. At least one user who said they were a worker on a recent Instagram post, which has now been cleared of comments, said they were informed on Friday of their store’s closure.

Known for its fish tacos, Rubio’s Coastal Grill was founded in Mission Bay in 1983. Since then, the chain has expanded to over 100 stores in California, Arizona and Nevada. According to the spokesperson, 86 stores will remain open after the closures.