East Texas On The Border Locations Get New Lease On Life

(Mix 93-1)  Two months ago, the future of On The Border in Tyler and Longview looked a bit bleak because its parent company filed for bankruptcy in Atlanta, Georgia. The entire chain of restaurants was put up on the auction block.

As in any auction, the highest bidder wins. In the case of On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina, the highest bidder happened to be one of its competitors.

Pappas Restaurant Purchases On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina

Texas-based Pappas Restaurants is now the owner of the On The Border chain. Pappas Restaurant CEO Mike Rizzo, says,

We’re excited to welcome On The Border to the Pappas family. On The Border is a brand with deep heritage and loyal guests, and we see a tremendous opportunity to invest in its future. Our shared Texas roots and passion for hospitality make this a natural fit. (Restaurant News)

Pending court approval of the sale, it looks as if the future for this well-known brand is looking bright once again. While the deal is still fresh, there are no details on how the existing restaurants are going to be brought into the company's mix.

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Pappas Restaurants is known throughout Texas with brands like Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen, Pappasito’s Cantina, Pappas Bar-B-Q, and Pappas Bros. Steakhouse. It will be interesting to see if the name On The Border sticks around or if the existing restaurants will acquire a new name.

The brand itself is strong. Chris Pappas, co-owner of Pappas Restaurants, says,

On The Border has always stood out for its energy and bold flavors—it's a brand we've known and respected for years. This gives us the chance to bring our passion for Tex-Mex to more guests, and we're excited to build on what makes both brands special.'

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Thankfully, we still have our On The Border locations here in East Texas and hope they remain for a while to come.