The flagship Addison location of Cantina Laredo—a staple of the North Texas Tex-Mex scene for more than four decades—permanently closed on August 2, 2026.

Located at 4546 Belt Line Road, the original eatery shuttered following unsuccessful lease negotiations. According to Bill Watson, Vice President of Marketing for parent company Consolidated Restaurant Operations (CRO), escalating rent demands would have made the location financially unsustainable. Watson noted that the corporate team remains saddened by the loss of the brand’s founding site, which suffered from limited visibility despite its prime corridor placement.

Four Decades of Culinary History

Restaurateur Gilbert Cuellar Jr., whose family launched the iconic El Chico chain nearly a century ago, established Cantina Laredo in 1984. The concept took shape after Cuellar traveled to Monterrey, Mexico, stopping en route at the historic Cadillac Bar in Nuevo Laredo. Inspired by the atmosphere and menu offerings of the border-town cantina, he created a tailored Tex-Mex dining experience back in Addison.

During its debut decade, the restaurant stood out in Addison’s competitive dining district with a menu featuring cabrito, half-shell oysters, and grilled fajitas. Over the years, the original location served as the operational standard and sales benchmark for all subsequent expansion.

Current Footprint and Brand Legacy

Although the Cuellar family sold its interest in the company decades ago, Cantina Laredo grew into a national brand under Dallas-based Consolidated Restaurant Operations, which also manages III Forks, Silver Fox, Lucky’s Diner, and El Chico.

Following the Addison closure, Cantina Laredo retains three operational locations in Texas:

• A standalone restaurant in Frisco
• A terminal location at Dallas Love Field
• A terminal location at DFW International Airport

The chain continues to operate out-of-state venues across Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Minnesota, Missouri, and Virginia.

With Cantina Laredo’s departure after 42 years on Belt Line Road, long-standing neighbors like Mr. Sushi (opened in 1984) and Nate’s Seafood (opened in 1988) remain among Addison’s oldest continuously operating dining establishments.