Acapulco near Stonewood Center closes after decades in Downey
DOWNEY, CA — The Acapulco Restaurant & Cantina near Stonewood Center appears to have closed, with signage at the site indicating it is “Permanently Closed,” user reports on Yelp noting the location has shut down, and the Downey restaurant no longer listed among active locations on the company’s website.
A video of the shuttered location was first posted Saturday night by the Facebook page South Downey.
A Costa Mesa location also closed the same weekend, with a sign posted there stating its last day of operation was Sunday, April 19.
Calls to Stonewood Center management were not returned. Representatives for Xperience Restaurant Group, which also operates El Torito, also did not respond to requests for comment.
Acapulco's arrival in Downey more than three decades ago coincided with a major overhaul of Stonewood Center, which was redeveloped into a fully enclosed shopping center in 1990 following a $100 million expansion, according to The Downey Patriot. The project introduced dozens of new stores along with anchor tenants and restaurants, including Acapulco and Olive Garden.
In a Facebook post, the Downey Conservancy said the 1956 building was designed by Pereira & Luckman–designers of LAX’s famed Theme Building–and previously housed Stonewood Restaurant and Piramides before becoming Acapulco. The group is urging city leaders to preserve the site.
“Please spread the word and let our city leaders know that we want this architectural and cultural landmark to be saved,” the group wrote.
The Downey location underwent a major renovation in 2016 that introduced a redesigned cantina, updated dining room and expanded patio spaces. A grand reopening was attended by then-Mayor Alex Saab.
The company’s website continues to list locations in Glendale and Long Beach as of press time, though the Glendale site has been approved for demolition as part of a redevelopment project, according to the Glendale News-Press.
