The original restaurant on South 12th Avenue where Daniel Contreras introduced Tucson to Sonoran hot dogs from a small cart in 1993 is closing on July 7.
But the closing will be short-lived.
Contreras will reopen the restaurant in late July in a new, much larger building next door that has been under construction for two years, said his son and marketing chief Gregorio Contreras.
“We’re at the point where all that’s really left is to make a parking lot and, sadly, that’s going to be where the old building is,†he said hours after El Güero announced the closing on Instagram.
A new El Güero Canelo location is under construction just south of the original location on South 12th Avenue.
Contreras said he expects demolition to begin shortly after July 7. The hope is to open the drive-thru at the new building in the next few weeks and have the building fully opened by the end of July.
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The decision to close the original location on the corner of South 12th and West Utah Street comes a dozen years after the senior Contreras opened brick-and-mortar locations at 2480 N. Oracle Road and 5802 E. 22nd St.
The flagship at 5201 S.12th Ave. was a modified brick-and-mortar with food preparation in a small building and the dining room set up in an enclosed outdoor pavilion.
Construction continues on the new El Güero Canelo location, 5201 South 12th Ave. It is expected to open in late July.
The new two-story building will have the same-sized dining room as the original and additional dining on the roof. It also will have better ventilation than the original, he said.
Contreras said his father wanted to create something nice for the community that gave him his start and has supported him for more than 30 years.
El Güero Canelo’s original location is set to permanently close on July 7. The restaurant that introduced many Tucsonans to the Sonora dog over the years will likely be razed for additional parking at the new location next door.
“Our primary clientele is the local community,†he said. “We do get people from all over the world coming to visit us because of the notoriety that we have, but our main clientele and our staple is the local community of Tucson.â€
El Güero Canelo has been featured in national publications and on the Food Network. In 2018, Daniel Contreras was in the national spotlight when he earned a James Beard Award, one of the highest culinary honors.
The new building also will house the restaurant’s Carniceria El Guero Canelo butcher shop, now located at 4519 S. 12th Ave.
In addition to the restaurants and butcher shop, Contreras owns a bakery in his native Magdalena, Sonora, where he bakes the soft, slightly sweet buns that are a signature of authentic Sonoran hot dogs.
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