Hey Takoba, ¿Qué Pasó? Popular East Austin Diner Abruptly Closes

EAST AUSTIN, TX — Popular East Austin eatery Takoba has closed indefinitely, according to its owner.

The Mexican food restaurant is particularly popular among soccer fans who converge on the place to watch their favorite team's matches. Fans of the restaurant were taken aback at the sudden announcement to shut down as detailed in a Thursday Facebook post.

"We regret to inform you that effective Thursday January 18, 2018 Takoba will be closing indefinitely," Takoba officials wrote. "We will be using this time to improve our food and drink menus as well as giving the restaurant a makeover. We want to thank everyone for making Takoba such a fun place all these years. We’ll see you’ll very soon!!!"

Officials didn't indicate when their restaurant at 1411 E. 7th St. might re-open. The announcement comes days after inclement weather forced the restaurant to close. Takoba, like many businesses, was prompted to close its doors amid a severe winter storm that left roads treacherous with ice and sleet. The restaurant had barely opened up for business on Wednesday after the weather-induced shuttering the day before making their announcement about an indefinite closure.

Owned by Mexican native Jose De Loera (also owner of El Tacorrido), the restaurant originally opened in 2010 to wide critical acclaim. It is for that reason that something of a panic ensued among both Mexican food lovers and soccer aficionados alike after the announcement was made.

Rumors began circulating as to its shutdown. Uninformed theories emerged. Speculation reared its ugly head. Whispers were heard ever so audibly. Chisme abounded.

Restaurant owners couldn't be reached for comment. But Charles Ponzio, a member of Hispanic Advocates Business Leaders of Austin (HABLA) says it's not at all like that. In his own Facebook post, Ponzio said he spoke to the owners of the real estate on which the restaurant is located, and they assured him the closure was merely temporary.

"Lots of nasty rumors floating about what 'really' is going on at Takoba," Ponzio wrote, alluding to the speculation surrounding the abrupt Takoba shutdown. "But I just talked with one of the three very successful Mexican-American owners of the real estate, who confirmed that the restaurant really has only closed to get the kitchen remodeled."

Which is a relief to many, either food lovers eager to once again enjoy the delicious and satisfying Takoba culinary offerings or aficionados of soccer (which is really called futbol as the cognoscenti know) wanting to take in a game perhaps accompanied with the eatery's famous margaritas or some cold cerveza once again looking forward to exuberant cries of "goooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooool!!!!"

We'll keep you posted if we learn anything else.

>>> Image via Shutterstock