Uncle Julio’s, a Dallas-based casual Mexican restaurant chain, is being acquired by Greenwich, Connecticut-based private equity firm L Catterton.
Founded in 1986 in Dallas, Uncle Julio’s is an upscale Mexican concept known for its made-from-scratch menu, offering the highest-quality Mexican food and fresh, handcrafted margaritas. Uncle Julio’s has a history of high average unit volumes (AUVs) and consistent performance across the U.S. and, with the support of L Catterton, plans to open new units in both existing and new markets, according to a news release.
“We are impressed by L Catterton’s unparalleled experience growing leading restaurant brands and deep understanding of consumer food and beverage trends and are excited to partner with their dedicated team,” said Tom Vogel, president and CEO of Uncle Julio’s. “L Catterton appreciates our commitment to providing our guests with high-quality, made-from-scratch Mexican food and exceptional customer service. Ultimately, L Catterton’s willingness to invest in the long-term success of our brand and their alignment with our values makes them the perfect fit to help us execute our growth strategy.”
L Catterton is no stranger to investing in Texas restaurant concepts. Current and past investments include Hopdoddy, Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen and Velvet Taco. It has also invested in P.F. Chang’s, Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza, Chopt Creative Salad Company, PIADA and First Watch.
Uncle Julio’s operates 29 restaurants across seven states including Texas, Virginia, Maryland, Illinois, Florida, Georgia, and Tennessee.