Amid Rising Costs, Health Code Violations, Monsoons Tap & Grill Closes

A popular restaurant has officially closed.Photo byTim MossholderonUnsplash

In Tucson, restaurant closures are more likely to happen either right before the New Year (mostly due to tax purposes) or just before summer. While summer months might be busy for restaurants in other cities, the same is not the case in Tucson. Due to a combination of factors, such as extremely high temperatures as well as the loss of tens of thousands of college students, restaurants can face an uphill battle. Coupled with rising energy costs it’s a difficult time for many establishments. And yet, with that said, it never gets any easier for a business to announce its closures, which is exactly what one local restaurant had to do after a decade of service.

Monsoons Tap & Grill at 6781 North Thornydale Road (Suite 261) made the difficult announcement on Facebook that Sunday, May 19, was its final day of operation. This came as a sudden shock to many patrons, as there was no word or buildup to the closure. Some restaurant owners don’t want to draw much attention, although this can prove unfortunate for long-time customers who might want to stop by for a final drink or dinner. Ideally, a restaurant would allow customers to stop by, but, unfortunately, that isn’t always an option.

The reasoning behind the sudden closure was that the restaurant could no longer compete with corporations and the rising costs of running a restaurant. However, big-brand restaurants are struggling just as much, and in many ways more so, than smaller businesses, as massive brands are filing for bankruptcy, and, in general, it takes a large business with a board of directors (and investors) much longer to pivot and address rising costs than it does a smaller business.

Rising costs, regardless of the size of the restaurant, have played a role in focusing on the closure of restaurants around Tucson. However, one issue Monsoons Tap & Grill did face that many others don’t was its poor health inspection background (statistically one of the worst in greater Tucson), as in 2023 alone it failed three different inspections, was placed on probation, and eventually went on to receive a “pass” grade at the end of the year (the restaurant received seven inspections in 2023 alone due to the poor performance. A normal restaurant receives, at most, one).

Regardless of the restaurant’s health code history, it did receive a massive outpouring of support from the community. In less than 24 hours, the Facebook post announcing its closure received nearly 500 likes and over 200 comments.