A reader sends these photos that show a new location — if in name only — of the Tex-Mex restaurant that couldn’t hack it up on the mean streets (and drives and boulevards) that’s getting ready to open in the tunnels Downtown beneath the First City Tower at 1001 Fannin. This would appear to be the 2nd of the version of Maggie Rita’s operated by Tony Shannard, who paid the original restaurateurs Carlos Mencia and Santiago Moreno to use the name; Shannard runs another Maggie Rita’s in the tunnels beneath the JPMorgan Chase Tower at 600 Travis; that’s about half a mile away from here as the mole scurries.
- Tex Mex Grill & Bar [Maggie Rita’s Mexican Kitchen]
- Previously on Swamplot: Maggie Rita’s Closes Shepherd Location, Calls It Quits, Bringing That Lady Home from Maggie Rita’s, Out with Mama Ninfa’s, in with Maggie Rita’s
Photos: philaphonic
Don’t the tunnel eateries typically close at 2pm? How many Maggie Rita’s do thy expect to serve to the tunnel lunch crowd?
I’m looking forward to the maggie ritas,
The chase location is always busy and really good. They have a $5.00 menu that is hard to beat.
http://www.houstonpress.com/2012-08-16/restaurants/maggie-ritas-ninfas/
I think that one lasted about 4 months. Over/under on the new one?
I seen people in there at 5 drinking. I think they stay open pretty late IIRC
Taking failure to new lows (bad pun intended)…
Why would this guy pay to use the name of a franchise that just failed in record time?
It’s worth noting that the Ninfa’s under the 919 Milam building closed at the end of June, so the cheap, sit-down enchilada and chip equilibrium in the tunnels has been disturbed. This Maggie Rita’s should restore the balance. The one under the Chase Tower seems to do well enough to get by.
Gluttons for punishment?
The one in the chase tower has been
In business of 5 years so they must
Be doing something right.
I go here in the morning for the best breakfast tacos!