THE lights are off, the doors bolted, the locks changed.
The area just hasn't quite worked out for us
Lucha Libre, the Mexican street food restaurant at Deansgate's Great Northern Warehouse, has been closed down.
According to an eyewitness, bailiffs acting on behalf of the lessor Tobermory SARL entered the premises around 1.30pm on Friday 10 July and began to repossess goods including kitchen equipment, cash tills, lighting fixtures and alcohol.
A quick search on company check website Endole reveals the Manchester bar and restaurant - owned by Alex James Hannah - has fallen into liquidation.
The original Lucha Libre in Liverpool, however, remains in business.
Hannah launched Lucha Libre in Manchester's Great Northern warehouse in November 2013 following a fruitful first year on Liverpool's Wood Street, following the likes of Almost Famous burgers and trendy ten-pin bowling outfit All Star Lanes in reinvigorating the flagging leisure destination.
However, as the statement reads on the restaurant's facebook page, the unit 'hasn't quite worked out'.
The statement reads:
'**** ATTENTION ALL TACO LOVERS ****
'It is with great regret that today we have closed our doors @ Great Northern Warehouse, Manchester for the last time. The area just hasn't quite worked out for us as we had planned but we gave it our best shot. We would like to thank the incredible support we have had from the people of Manchester and most importantly to our unbelievable staff who have been an absolute pleasure to work with and who have worked so hard for us over the past couple of years. We will love you all forever. We must say that this is only good bye for now and that we will be back stronger when we relaunch Lucha in the area we maybe should've gone for in the first place (watch this space).
'We must say that Manchester is such a fantastic city and there are many, many great restaurants to choose from and we hope to be part of it all again real soon when we reopen. Thanks for the memories Manchester, you are still one beautiful sexy beast xxx
'p.s This is does NOT effect of first born Lucha Libre Liverpool in anyway at all so if you are around those parts be sure to come see us for some tacos & margaritas sometime xxx
'Lucha x'
So Lucha plan to reopen Lucha in an area they 'should've gone for in the first place' eh? One guess...
