Luby’s Reopens One of Three El Paso Locations After Coronavirus Closures

It’s not the end of the buffet line for Luby’s in El Paso, after all. At least, not for one of them.

After suspending operations in March amid the coronavirus pandemic, the beloved Texas cafeteria chain has finally reopened the Hawkins location, one of three in El Paso. The future of its N. Mesa and Chelsea restaurants, however, is as uncertain as the future of the entire chain.

Things have not been going well financially for Luby's for a while now, and the pandemic only exacerbated the problem. Although officials still intend to sell the company and all its assets, the locations that have reopened will continue to serve up fan favorites like creamy macaroni and cheese and golden fried fish until a buyer is found.

Until then, the one on Hawkins will open daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. for dine-in, pick-up, and heat-at-home meals. Like all dining establishments that have been allowed to welcome customers back in, Luby’s is following the latest COVID-19 guidelines provided by the CDC and all local and state authorities.

Status of its two other El Paso locations

But it appears the famous LuAnn platter no longer has a home at either the N. Mesa or Chelsea location.

Those restaurants remain closed and Luby's has not responded to my emails asking about their status. The company website lists them as “temporarily closed,” but it looks to be more than just temporary for the one on the west side.

Doors to the building it occupied on N. Mesa have been chained shut and a “Notice of Lockout for Nonpayment of Rent” dated 6/11 was taped to one of the doors.

A laid off employee and an employee family members have told us they were informed that both the N. Mesa and Chelsea location have been closed for good.