John Cuellar

John Cuellar. Photo by Danny Fulgencio

El Corazon de Tejas, the beloved Tex-Mex restaurant now surrounded by new development on West Davis at Zang, is closing.

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Sunday will be its last day of operation as its owners, the Cuellar family, are selling the building.

Rumors started last weekend that the restaurant was closing as waiters and bartenders began telling their customers the unfortunate news Sunday night. Those workers have said that some longterm employees have been offered jobs at Cuellar’s Fajita Ranch north of Dallas.

We broke the news a couple of weeks ago that redevelopment plans were underway for the building, which was constructed in 1940 and now sits on one of the most valuable and underutilized corners in Dallas commercial real estate.

After our story published, restaurant owner John Cuellar told the Dallas Morning News that “About 75 percent or more of the information circulating is misinformation.”

Cuellar hasn’t spoken to us, but he confirmed for Culture Map today that the restaurant is closing, and the building is being sold.

The restaurant’s owners pulled a demolition permit for the building last month, which means it could be torn down any time.

Cuellar hasn’t said to whom he is selling the building. But the City Plan Commission recently approved a CVS developer’s request to create one 4.5-acre tract from parcels that include the restaurant building and the nearby retail strip.