Food News

Villa Mexico Cafe is not closing after all

A week earlier, the owners of a Boston staple announced it may be closing for good due to unpaid rent and declining foot traffic.

Villa Mexico Cafe is no longer closing, announced by the owners a week after they told customers their business might shutter due to unpaid rent and a decline in business. David L Ryan/ Boston Globe Staff

By Katelyn Umholtz

April 7, 2026 | 9:20 AM

2 minutes to read

Villa Mexico Cafe, a decades-old taco and burrito restaurant that was on the verge of closing for good last week, announced today they would remain open after receiving a loan that helped them pay rent.

Julie King, who founded the restaurant and runs it with her daughter, Bessie King, said in a video on Instagram that the restaurant had received some loans that helped the King family convince their landlord to renew the lease of their Financial District restaurant.

“Thanks to our incredible customers and some elected leaders, our landlord heard directly from them about why we should stay open, and we received direct personal loans to pay our due rent,” Julie King said over email. “Now comes the good stuff: continuing to work hard to not only stay in business, but keep on the path to make profit again.”

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A post shared by Villa México Café (@villamexicocafe)

A week ago, the King family wasn’t so optimistic. The Villa Mexico Cafe team shared on Instagram that after more than 25 years in business — including a decade at its current Financial District location — debts and the loss of foot traffic from the once-bustling pre-pandemic lunch scene would likely force them to close.

In the post, Villa Mexico offered to sell restaurant equipment so that the team could use that money to pay bills and workers’ wages before they had to close up shop by April 9.

“We’re not OK, but right now we can’t give up and cry,” the post said. “Our team needs us.”

In Monday’s update, Julie King said last week’s plea led to an outpouring of support and an increase in orders.

The business is now looking at extending hours and is available on more third-party delivery services.

Bessie King (right) and her mother Julie King (left) own Villa Mexico Cafe in the Financial District. (David L Ryan/Globe Staff )

But Julie King said it will take more consistent support from Boston diners to keep Villa Mexico Cafe open, and for customers to choose their local business over competing national chains like Taco Bell and Chipotle.

“Now, to keep us open and to pay the loans, we need you. We need you, my dears,” Julie King said on Instagram.

Before moving to the Financial District, Villa Mexico Cafe started in Woburn, where Julie King, originally from Mexico City, set out to bring authentic Mexican food in Greater Boston. Her business eventually moved to a Beacon Hill gas station before arriving at its current Water Street location in 2016.

Villa Mexico Cafe is known for serving some of the best burritos in the city, and its popular black salsa is available with every order and also sold by the jar.