CLOSED: Every Baja Fresh in the Valley After Today

Finish off that Burrito Ultimo® and take one long, last look at that salsa bar, folks. Baja Fresh is closing up shop in the Valley. See also: - CLOSED: Poblano in Central Phoenix - CLOSED: Cafe Posada in Gilbert Today is the last day of operation for all five Valley...

By Laura Hahnefeld

April 12, 2013

Audio By Carbonatix

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Finish off that Burrito Ultimo® and take one long, last look at that salsa bar, folks. Baja Fresh is closing up shop in the Valley.

Today is the last day of operation for all five Valley locations of the quick-casual Mexican chain. Locations in cities outside the Valley, including Prescott, will remain open.

While employees or managers at each of the five locations (downtown, Camelback, ASU, Tempe South, and Chandler) confirmed that their stores were closing today, all were unsure or would not comment as to what led to the shuttering.

A call to Jerry DeLucia, the director of marketing at Baja Fresh, has not yet been returned.

A source tells me some of the Baja Fresh locations will be replaced by America's Taco Shop, the counter-service Mexican eatery founded in 2008 by America Corrales and husband Terry Bortin. Last month, three America's Taco Shops (there are six in the Valley) were raided by Maricopa County sheriff's deputies.

Baja Fresh was founded in 1990 and is headquartered in Irvine, California. Baja Fresh operates or franchises over 250 restaurants in 26 states as well as Dubai and Singapore. In 2002, Wendy's purchased Baja Fresh then sold the chain to a private investor group in 2006.

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Laura Hahnefeld

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