Buen Día, the El Paso-born chilaquiles spot that set up shop near the Pearl about two years ago, has quietly gone dark in San Antonio after a brazen case of vandalism and copper theft left the dining room without electricity. The mini-chain is still serving in its two El Paso locations, but the once-busy Broadway space now sits empty.
Copper Heist Knocks Out the Lights
On April 8, staff arrived to find the restaurant’s electrical boxes damaged and copper wiring ripped out, forcing an immediate shutdown while owners figured out how to handle the repairs. General manager Edward Tamez told KSAT he “realized the power was out … all the copper was stolen,” a hit that cost the business several days of revenue.
Social Media Confirms It Is Over
Regulars holding out hope that the Pearl-area outpost might bounce back got their answer on Instagram, where people asking about reopening were told, “Our San Antonio location has closed.” The restaurant’s San Antonio address disappeared from the chain’s Instagram bio soon after. MySA also notes that Google now lists the Broadway spot as temporarily closed and that attempts to reach partner Nick Salgado and the restaurant by phone went nowhere.
El Paso Favorite’s Short Run Near the Pearl
Buen Día moved into the former Earl Abel’s space at 1639 Broadway in mid-2024, bringing its El Paso-style chilaquiles concept to the Pearl-adjacent stretch of Broadway, according to the Express-News. Police have asked anyone with information about the April vandalism to contact authorities, a step that local reporting says could help deter repeat copper thefts that leave small restaurants staring down hefty repair bills, as reported by KSAT.
