Popular Mexican restaurant in Merced closes its doors

Florencio's Mexican Restaurant, a popular spot to get a bite in the promenade on Yosemite Avenue, recently closed its doors.

“We had to close because even though it was popular we didn’t sell enough to complete all the payments, like rent,” said Martha Aguilar, whose family owned the restaurant.

The restaurant’s logo has been taken down and a notice hung on the door thanks customers for the "dedication to their restaurant."

Florencio's served its final meal Sept. 25.

The notice also indicated plans are in the works for a new Mexican restaurant to open in the same the location "coming weeks."

"The new owner is excited to be part of such a vibrant center," the notice says.

It "makes sense" to fill the now-empty location with another restaurant, said Frank Quintero, Merced economic development director.

"We've already had a handful of inquiries," he said. "Everybody we've talked to thus far has been focused on a restaurant."

The closure of Florencio's came 18 months after the passing of owner, Florencio Aguilar, who died suddenly in April 2016. His sister, Martha Aguilar, took over management of the eatery after the death.

In the months after his passing people came to the restaurant less and less, she said, and they were struggling to pay employees and bills. Soon it became "impossible" to keep the doors open, even after putting her own personal money into the business, she said.

"We wanted to keep it open as a memory of him," Aguilar told the Sun-Star.

However, the other restaurant in Merced that Florencio Aguilar also owned, La Morenita, remains open for business, she said.

It's located at 1352 W 13th St.

This story was originally published October 5, 2017 at 4:34 PM with the headline "Popular Mexican restaurant in Merced closes its doors."