With Durham location closed, this Mexican chain has no NC restaurants left
An upscale Mexican chain has closed its last North Carolina location.
Uncle Julio’s Mexican, which previously had two restaurants in the state — and both in the Triangle — has closed at The Streets at Southpoint mall in Durham.
The location has been closed as of Sunday, April 27, a public relations representative who works with the Durham mall told The News & Observer in an email.
A sign posted to the restaurant’s front door shares news of the closure, when the location is called, a recording repeats the message: “We’ve made the difficult decision to permanently close this location. We appreciate your patronage over the years and being part of your community.”
The mall still has several dining options including Maggiano’s Little Italy, Co and The Cheesecake Factory.
Of the 10 most recent Yelp reviews of the Durham Uncle Julio’s, which were all posted since Friday, March 21, seven were one-stars.
The Durham shopping center was where Uncle Julio’s made its debut in North Carolina, in 2018. A year later, the chain opened a second location at Crabtree Valley Mall in Raleigh. The now-closed Raleigh restaurant moved into the former McCormick & Schmick’s, and the location had an 8,600-square-foot dining room and a 1,000-square-foot patio.
Texas-based Uncle Julio’s was acquired by the multi-brand franchise organization Sun Holdings in a foreclosure auction in December 2024.
According to the restaurant’s website, there are still Uncle Julio’s locations in 11 states, including Virginia and Tennessee.
It is the latest Mexican restaurant chain to close locations in the Triangle. On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in March, shuttered two North Carolina locations, including one in Cary.
Uncle Julio’s serves a variety of Mexican and Tex-Mex classics, including tableside guacamole, fajitas, enchiladas and tacos.
Its beverage program includes a selection of margaritas along with other traditional cocktails such as an espresso martini and paloma.
But arguably the star of the show at Uncle Julio’s is the chocolate piñata, a globe of dark chocolate filled with churros and fresh fruit.
Which stores are opening at The Streets at Southpoint?
Several new retailers have been announced for the Durham mall:
- Lego toy store
- Clothing and accessories retailer PacSun
- Dick’s House of Sport, an experiential store from Dick’s Sporting Goods
- Popular athleisure brand Alo Yoga
- Canada-based clothing retailer Aritzia
- Jewelry store Gorjana
This story was originally published May 2, 2025 at 11:35 AM with the headline "With Durham location closed, this Mexican chain has no NC restaurants left."
