GILBERT, AZ — A popular Arizona salad chain announced on Tuesday that it will be closing its doors after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
In a statement, Salad and Go says it will serve its last customers on Wednesday and will close all its locations.
“This is a painful day for everyone who built, worked for and loved Salad and Go,” said Mike Tattersfield, Salad and Go CEO, in a statement Tuesday. “Our mission was brought to life every day by an extraordinary team and embraced by guests who made us part of their routines. We are proud of what we built together and grateful to every team member, guest and partner who believed in it.”
The line wrapped around the building Wednesday as customers made one last trip through the drive-thru at the Salad and Go near Gilbert and Guadalupe roads.
For many, it wasn’t just about grabbing lunch. It was about saying goodbye to a restaurant that started in Gilbert more than a decade ago before growing into a national chain.
“This is a sad thing,” customer Brandy Beer said. “Sometimes good things go away.”
“It’s heartbreaking,” another customer said. “This place is amazing. They have decent-priced meals, their drinks are amazing. It’s very affordable.”
Many customers said Salad and Go had become part of their routine, whether it was a quick lunch, dinner with family or a stop on the way home from work.
“My youngest daughter and I do picnics across the street, and we enjoy the quesadillas and salads together,” Beer said.
Others hope the closure won’t be permanent.
“I’m sad to see this go, but hopefully we get someone else or try to figure out how to get them back,” customer Elizabeth Burns said.
Some customers told ABC15 they waited as long as 40 minutes for one final meal, saying the extra time was worth it for one last chance to visit a hometown favorite.
The company first opened in Gilbert in 2013 and expanded to include locations across Arizona and Nevada, before growing further.
In January, the company announced it closed all of its restaurant locations and facilities in Texas and Oklahoma and was refocusing its efforts in Arizona.
Want more news in your community? Add ABC15 as a preferred source on Google below:
