Another neon sign has gone dark on downtown St. Cloud’s 5th Avenue. Tequilatown Club & Latin Cuisine, the Mexican and Latin nightclub that occupied the historic D.B. Searle building, has closed permanently, and the three-story property is now being marketed for sale. The restaurant paused operations in June 2025 for planned renovations and never reopened. Local listings now describe the space as a turnkey restaurant and event venue, adding a high-profile vacancy to a block that has already seen more than its share of turnover.
The closure caps a short run for Tequilatown in the Searles space. The restaurant moved into the location in March 2024 and later opened a second spot in Grove City while the downtown site remained dark. According to KNSI, the building has been listed for sale since at least February 2026.
Historic 5th Avenue building hits the market
The commercial listing pitches the 1886-era, three-story property as a functioning restaurant and event space, noting that equipment, inventory and liquor-license approvals could transfer with a sale. The listing went live in mid-February, according to MLS distribution pages, and includes interior photos and a virtual tour for prospective buyers. Per the Edina Realty listing, brokers are aiming squarely at restaurateurs and investors looking for a downtown anchor.
Years of turnover in one address
The building has cycled through concepts and owners over the last decade. D.B. Searles and later Searles on Fifth occupied the space before Tequilatown, and previous operators sold the property after ceasing nightlife operations. City records and reporting show the Tequilatown liquor application cleared city review in 2023, and local coverage notes that Darin and Michelle Agnew, who ran Searles on Fifth, closed permanently in June 2022, citing pandemic shutdowns and health setbacks. See reporting from WJON for the recent timeline.
Downtown context and what the sale could mean
The listing arrives as city planners and developers push a broader vision for downtown St. Cloud that emphasizes adaptive reuse and new housing, which could make a well-located historic property an appealing target for buyers. At the same time, local reporting shows a string of small dining and retail closures over the past year, underscoring the challenges independent operators face while the city pursues longer-term catalyst projects. For background, see the City of St. Cloud downtown plan and recent coverage by St. Cloud LIVE.
What comes next for 18 5th Avenue
The Edina Realty listing suggests a buyer could revive the space as a restaurant or entertainment venue, or convert the upper floors for other uses while capitalizing on an existing liquor-capable footprint. As of the listing and local reports there was no new public statement from the downtown owners about the sale. Interested buyers can browse photos, virtual tours and contact details via the MLS pages. See the Edina Realty listing for more information.
