After more than 13 years in business, Fuzzy’s Taco Shop in downtown Lawrence has closed — at least for now.
Owner John Records said he’s retiring, but he hopes the shop won’t be closed forever.
“We have appreciated everybody over the years, but I’m not sure that the story is over,” he said.
Records said sales aren’t quite as robust as they used to be, and he is looking to find a new owner to take over the taco shop. It’s on the northwest side of one of downtown’s most prominent corners at 1115 Massachusetts St., across from the historic Douglas County courthouse and nearby South Park.
He was hesitant to comment on whether he’d had much luck finding a new owner, at least until the ink dries on an agreement — but “I will say that we’re pursuing it,” he said.
Unfortunately, the restaurant’s closure has left about 18 employees without jobs, Records said.
Records said there weren’t very many places like Fuzzy’s when they opened in October 2011. But in recent years, Lawrence saw a boom of new taco restaurants.
Now, Fuzzy’s is at least the third taco-centric downtown business to close in the last several months — Rusty Taco closed in June, and Taco Zone announced in July that it was closing to focus on catering.
Prior to that, Torchy’s Tacos opened in 2021 near 31st and Iowa streets but closed its doors in August 2022. Ta Co. opened at Eighth and Massachusetts streets in late 2019 but closed its doors in 2022 with plans to move to Topeka.
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Mackenzie Clark (she/her), reporter/founder of The Lawrence Times, can be reached at mclark@lawrencekstimes.com. Read more of her work for the Times here. Check out her staff bio here.
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August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
