2 Northeast Florida Mexican restaurants abruptly close. Could they reopen?

Two Northeast Florida Mexican restaurants have abruptly closed, leaving employees and customers confused about the restaurants’ futures.

According to posts on the restaurants' social media accounts on Monday, Anejo Cocina Mexicana in Yulee and Salsas Cocina Mexicana and Cantina in Middleburg have closed.

The restaurant closures, however, are described as temporary, according to the posts on Facebook. It's unclear when they will reopen.

The two restaurants, both of which have several locations in Jacksonville and Northeast Florida, are operated by companies owned by Jesus and Blanca Valencia and Melandy Higdon, according to Florida Division of Corporation records.

Higdon told Action News Jax that the closings – which came as a surprise to her – left 45 of her employees without work.

People who identified themselves as employees of the restaurants to Action News Jax and News4Jax, said they had no warnings of the closings.

After making its debut in Ponte Vedra in May 2020, Anejo Cocina Mexicana has grown to nine locations in just four years, including seven restaurants in Northeast Florida and others in Daytona Beach and Winter Park. Another is planned for Middleburg, according to state records.

The Yulee Park restaurant opened in July 2021.

Salsas dates back to at least 2012, with the opening its restaurant at Beach & Hodges boulevards. That concept has 13 Florida locations, including seven in Northeast Florida.

The Middleburg restaurant opened in August 2020.

The Valencia family also operates 904 Tacos Street Tacos & Cantina in Five Points.

Attempts to reach the restaurants’ owners for comment were not immediately returned.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Anejo Cocina in Yulee and Salsas Cocina in Middleburg close