El Fenix closes Wichita Falls restaurant suddenly over weekend

Patrick Johnston | Wichita

A Wichita Falls Mexican restaurant suddenly shuttered its doors Sunday morning, reportedly without giving employees any advance notice.

El Fenix, a North Texas chain with restaurants mostly in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, announced on Facebook that it would be closing its doors.

"After six years of serving authentic Tex-Mex to Wichita Falls and the surrounding community, we have made the difficult decision to close this location," stated a post at 9:48 a.m. Sunday to El Fenix Wichita Falls' Facebook page. "We thank our loyal guests for their support and invite them to visit us in DFW soon!"

According to comments on the post, employees at the location discovered the news as they tried to come into work Sunday morning. The closure was confirmed to them on social media.

"This would have been nice before me showing up for working there after 6 YEARS! And being told 'oh yea we are closing this location,'" commented Curtis Hughes, who lists a position as bartender at the restaurant on his page.

Several other commenters on the post expressed their disgust with the chain for allegedly not giving local employees any prior notice about the location locking its doors.

"Thank your loyal guests, and no mention of your employees...who didn’t know you were closing???? Why would anyone want to visit another one of your locations? What a disgusting way to do business!" wrote Tim Sammons.

Another post by El Fenix Wichita Falls celebrating National Dessert Day was made offering one free mini sopapilla with entrée purchase on Sunday – two hours after the page announced the location's closure.

The Wichita Falls location was not listed on El Fenix's corporate website Monday.