It’s official, the Rio Mambo Tex Mex y Más restaurants have been sold to the California-based El Torito franchise.
The owners of the Chevys Fresh Mex and El Torito restaurants in California have bought the Rio Mambo Tex Mex y Mas franchise says local restaurateur and Tex-Mex founder Brent Johnson in a recent article that appeared in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Johnson added that the Xperience Restaurant Group, based in Cypress, California, also bought The Rim grill-and-bar restaurants located in Fort Worth and Burleson. This group operates Mexican restaurants under nine brands, mostly in California. Buying Rio Mambo and The Rim marks the company’s expansion into Texas.
Rio Mambo’s current locations in Fort Worth, Colleyville, Burleson and Weatherford will all be taken over by El Torito, the Telegram reports. “They have talked to us a couple of times because they like what we do,” Johnson told the Telegram. “They buy small to midsize companies with a brand. I think they definitely plan to expand.”
The first El Torito was founded in 1954 in Encino, California. According to a release, the company also operates restaurants under the names Sol, Las Brisas, Solita Tacos, Sinigual and Who Song & Larry’s.
Johnson had been in management with the Mi Cocina restaurants before opening Rio Mambo.
