Don’s Japanese Kitchen, a restaurant formerly on the famous Guadalupe street, has closed down its restaurant, announcing its closing through social media earlier this January. Now, the restaurant is only available by food truck behind the University Co-op. The restaurant had quickly caught popularity with its convenient price range and as well as its location – nabbing an easy spot on “The Drag”, a hangout area well known to UT Students.
Don’s had first opened on The Drag in 2017 and later opened another location in San Marcos shortly thereafter. The restaurant hailed an almost five-star rating on Yelp, and reviewers raved about its great prices, big portions, and their famously known ‘Don’s styled-fries’ where you can dress waffle fries in any Asian condiment you’d like. One yelper, reminisced about the memories she shared with the restaurant throughout her college career. Posted on September 15th, 2019, user ‘Tiana T’ wrote:
As seen from the review, the yelper reminisced Don’s because of their fruitful relationship, which lasted “from freshmen year” to now her “super senior year.” She then concluded the review with a tearful note, stating, “I really wish you the best of luck and hope you stick around Guad for years to come — unlike most of the unlucky businesses here.”
This thought that the Yelper had expressed, hoping that Don’s would live forever on Guad despite its fast short lives the street tends to give its businesses, is a popular rumor that many UT students have dispelled. Because of its high traffic, constantly growing and seasonal cycle, The Drag and Guadalupe street remains a high prospect spot for businesses to land and capitalize from. However, because of it’s high demand and well-known success, rumor says that rent for businesses has become increasingly high, and no longer sustainable for owners to upkeep.
The news about Don’s closing broke two days after the also famous, “Thai, How Are You?” restaurant had announced their closing as well. In turn, these announcements set off a conversation about businesses coming and going on Guadalupe street.
In an interview with KVUE, owner of the “Thai, How Are You?” restaurant Noi Sukkji stated that, “I put all the energy I have – 80 hours per week, 100 hours per week, but now it’s time for me to check back on my health.”
As we mourn the death of Don’s restaurant and celebrate its spirit in food truck form, we can remember it’s memories by sharing and creating memes that honor its legacy. Here are some created by UT students that commemorate the loss.
