Paco’s Mexican Cuisine has closed its Sundance Square Plaza location at 156 W 4th St. after three years. The closure was announced via Instagram on June 11, 2025. Chef “Paco” Islas made this decision to focus on his new concept, Shōgun Taqueria, located in the Near Southside.
Highlights
- The restaurant closes after three years at Sundance Square Plaza.
- Owners shift focus to new Shōgun Taqueria concept location.
- Service industry challenges cited as reason for closure.
Paco’s Says Goodbye to Sundance Square
Paco’s Mexican Cuisine officially ended its run at the prominent Sundance Square Plaza location this week. Founded by Francisco “Paco” Islas and his family, the restaurant brought authentic Mexican cuisine from Pachuca, Mexico to downtown Fort Worth.
The establishment had operated for 21 years across three Fort Worth locations. It originally started in 2007 as Paco & John, a breakfast cafe on Eighth Avenue. The restaurant was founded by Islas and his father, Francisco, representing a family from Pachuca, Mexico. Paco’s was once on Texas Monthly’s list of the 50 best Mexican restaurants in Texas.
The restaurant was popular for its traditional dishes like tlacoyos, a stuffed-masa appetizer, as well as birria tacos and sizzling molcajete. These authentic recipes reflected the family’s heritage and dedication to authentic Mexican food.
Reason Behind The Closure
The closure stems from strategic business decisions. “This isn’t a decision we made lightly, but rather one rooted in a strategic refocus on the next phase of our journey,” the restaurant stated in its Instagram announcement.
The owners said industry-wide problems were a factor. “Given the climate in the service industry, it has been difficult to keep two concepts going with 100% effort as a small family ran business,” they explained.
The restaurant’s lease at the Sundance location had also ended, providing a natural transition point for the closure decision.
What Lies Ahead for Paco’s
Chef “Paco” Islas has redirected his efforts toward Shōgun Taqueria, his new fusion restaurant concept. This establishment operates at 1508 W. Magnolia Ave., which was formerly another Paco’s location. The new concept, “blending the bold flavors of Mexican & Japanese street food” represents a different culinary direction for the chef.
The restaurant owners expressed gratitude for their Sundance Square experience. “Sundance Square has been an important part of our story — a place where we’ve grown and shared countless unforgettable moments,” read the post.
Paco’s departure leaves a prominent vacancy on Sundance Square Plaza despite recent crowd rebounds after the pandemic downturn. The closure represents a strategic shift for the established restaurant family. Chef Islas now concentrates his efforts on developing the Shōgun Taqueria concept in the Near Southside area.
