We saved the animals but who saved us?

We are truly grateful for your unwavering support during our short existence. It is never easy, and words sometimes seem inadequate in expressing the depths of our gratitude. Because of all of you, we wanted to make this work so much that even when we should have called it quits, we didn’t. But let me tell you that this past year has tested us more than anything else has ever tested us. It was a true test of our spirits. What once was a milestone in our lives and a catalyst of joy soon turned into a dark cloud shadowing our mental health.

We are forever indebted to every soul who stood by us, showering us with love and praise. You are the reason we embarked on this journey. When It became time to call it quits, you were the reason it was hard to throw in the towel. But after too many sleepless nights and decreasing mental well-being, it finally became time to call it quits. Now that it’s official that we will not be carrying on, it finally feels like we are no longer drowning. To be completely truthful, it started becoming heart-wrenching to hear everyone’s words of appreciation and hold a smile while we were witnessing our struggles with dwindling finances. We know it may be hard to hear, but amidst the abundance of love and appreciation, we began to question our path. Perhaps if everyone had stopped coming, or if criticism had been more negative, we could have seen our shortcomings more clearly, and our path to success might have been clearer. But amongst the praise, we felt like we had a formula that would work, and we clung to hope that perseverance alone would be our answer.

To all those we've served, we carry a profound sense of responsibility. We set out with a dream to bring Vegan Mexican cuisine to Logan Square, but in the end, we couldn't live up to that expectation. We can't help but feel we've disappointed you, especially at a time when more and more plant-based restaurants are closing. Yet, our deepest desire remains to honor our commitment to our incredible staff. Their extraordinary dedication, even in the face of uncertainty, speaks volumes about their character. They are the heart and soul of Don Bucio's, and we owe them more than words can express. They were the glimmer of light that kept us going even when it got the darkest. We want to apologize to them for not making it and thank them for always believing in us and sticking by our side even when it started to become clear that this wasn’t going to work. Please help us give them a chance to take some extended time off to heal before they begin the next stage in their life.

As we say our goodbyes, it's hard to let go but there is a glimmer of hope. We prefer to see this as a "see you later" instead of a farewell forever. We already have ideas of how to repurpose the space and ideas to keep Don Bucio’s alive in some format. First, we need time to heal from this experience. Once we feel we have properly healed, our dreams for the future include crafting a cookbook, transitioning some of our products into a retail venture, and perhaps one day, opening a Don Bucio's in a different manifestation. But regardless of what the future holds, our gratitude for your support will always be sacred to us.