Family restaurant La Fonda to close in Tempe on Sunday, relocate in future
Nov 3, 2021, 12:15 PM | Updated: 3:52 pm
(Facebook Photo/La Fonda Restaurant and Cantina)
(Facebook Photo/La Fonda Restaurant and Cantina)
PHOENIX – A longtime family-owned Mexican restaurant in Tempe is dishing up final meals at its current location Sunday, with plans to reopen elsewhere in the East Valley.
La Fonda Mexican Restaurant & Cantina at Baseline Road and McClintock Drive announced in a recent post on social media that it hoped to be up and running at a new site in a few months.
“We would like to thank you for your continued support of our locally owned family business in Tempe for almost 55 years,” the post said, adding owners Ray and Janet Pedraza were retiring and the third generation would be taking over when the restaurant reopens.
The move was prompted when Fry’s Foods parent company, Kroger, bought the property early this year, according to documents at the Maricopa County Assessor website.
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The Sonoran-style menu first was served to diners at Scottsdale and Curry roads in 1967. Eloise Franklin opened the eatery in a shopping center, the family wrote on La Fonda’s website.
When the shopping center was slated for demolition, the family moved the restaurant south and reopened in July 2012.
A family member said they were scouting locations nearby but outside of Tempe.
La Fonda’s dining room is open from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. Friday through Sunday.
Takeout also is available.
