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Don Pablo's Says Adios To Bay Area

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By ANGELA DELGADO, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 16, 2008

TOWN 'N COUNTRY - Anyone given a Don Pablo's gift card for Christmas may have to travel to use it.

On Dec. 26, the five Don Pablo's restaurants in the Tampa Bay area closed. The restaurants were in Town 'N Country, Tampa, Brandon, St. Petersburg and Sarasota.

Tracy Mulder, director of marketing for Avado Brands, which owns Don Pablo's and Hops restaurants, said the company filed for bankruptcy for the second time in September.

"Our goal was to sell nonperforming restaurants so employees could keep their jobs, but unfortunately we were unable to do that in this area," Mulder said.

Employees were paid for shift work and have been receiving job counseling. The company also is trying to find jobs for these employees at existing Don Pablo's restaurants.

The first Don Pablo's opened in Lubbock, Texas, in 1985, and at one time there were up to 91 locations in the United States. Because of the closings, Mulder couldn't pinpoint the number of restaurants still open.

Don Pablo's arrived in the Tampa Bay area in June 1996.
Gift cards will be accepted at any Don Pablo's location nationwide, Mulder said. The nearest location to the Tampa area is on International Drive in Orlando. Card holders can also log on to www.donpablos .com or call 1-800-372-2567 to redeem them for cash.

Reporter Angela Delgado can be reached at (813) 865-1501 or adelgado@tampatrib.com.

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