Iconic Mexican restaurant Tacos Chiwas to close 1 metro Phoenix location. Here's why

Tacos Chiwas, the iconic Mexican restaurant opened by husband-and-wife James Beard Award semifinalists Armando Hernandez and Nadia Holguin, announced in an Instagram post Thursday that the Chandler location of the restaurant, at 2160 N Alma School Road, is closing.

The last day to eat there is Friday, June 28.

"It was a wonderful 5 years," read the Instagram post caption. "Thank you to everyone who supported us during that time."

The couple decided not to renew their Chandler lease, according to the post. The caption said, "this location no longer really makes sense for us," citing the need for customer restrooms and a bar as part of the reason for the closing.

They are looking for a bigger space to restore the restaurant to three locations as soon as possible. Hernandez told The Arizona Republic the new space could be in Chandler, but they are also looking elsewhere around the Valley for a space that feels like a "perfect fit."

Hernandez and Holguin recently soft opened a new coffee shop, Aruma , in Tempe, next door to their other wildly successful Mexican restaurant, Cocina Chiwas .

The Tacos Chiwas restaurants in Phoenix and Mesa remain open. There is no estimated time line to open a new location.

Inside Aruma: Tacos Chiwas team opens coffee shop in Tempe. Everything to know

Reach the reporter at endia.fontanez@gannett.com . Follow @EndiaFontanez on X, formerly Twitter.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Iconic Mexican restaurant Tacos Chiwas to close 1 metro Phoenix location. Here's why