El Burro’s departure from the Pruneyard in Campbell has been moved up.

The last day for the popular Mexican restaurant is today, May 16, owner Lori Uribe confirmed.

El Burro has served the South Bay for 47 years in this location, having opened in 1971 as one of the Pruneyard’s earliest tenants. The Uribe family had also owned an El Burro in Newark for many years.

But El Burro’s owners had not been able to reach an agreement on renovations and a new lease with Ellis Partners, the owner of the Pruneyard. The center is undergoing major changes and upgrades.

Originally, Uribe — daughter of original owner Mario — had hoped to keep the restaurant open another month or so. But according to a blog post by Chris Jackson of 98.5 KFOX, employees have had to find new jobs, which means the Uribes can’t fully staff the restaurant any longer.

Jackson added: “I’m born and raised in San Jose and my parents took me to El Burro every few weeks for many years! Love me some El Burro for their chairs, tables, tostadas, enchiladas, salsa, rice…well, everything!”

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Newark’s El Burro hacienda razed; here’s what’s coming next Uribe has said she hopes to find a new location and reopen.

But not quite yet, she said Wednesday, because of the demands of closing and moving everything out of the space and the emotions generated by a shutdown after so many years.

It’s an emotional day, she said. “Right now we have to get over this. The Pruneyard did not put us in their future plans.”

Customers started lining up before the restaurant opened for lunch at 11 a.m. El Burro will close at 9 p.m.

Details: 1875 S. Bascom Ave.; 408-371-5800.