After operating for more than a year on West Franklin Street, Ay Por Dios! Mexican Bistro has fully closed to customers.

Owner Edy Barahona confirmed the restaurant’s closure to Chapelboro on Tuesday, after Ay Por Dios! had been closed during its normal hours the prior week.

It ends a business venture that suffered a rocky start to its opening in Chapel Hill as it aimed to bring “the richness of Mexican gastronomy and the versatility of Italian cuisine with our local community.” The restaurant, which garnered attention for its flashy interior space and eclectic menu, opened in September 2023 after an extensive renovation and permitting process at 431 West Franklin Street. Barahona took over the space after Kipos Greek Taverna relocated to the Eastgate Crossing shopping center in late 2020.

Barahona — who is also a partner of Kahlovera Mexican Bar & Grill in Meadowmont Village — told Chapelboro he is not giving up on the space itself, and a new restaurant concept could soon use the building instead. According to Barahona, the aim is for a business with a new name, menu and leadership to be up and running in 2025.

As of Wednesday, the Ay Por Dios! website and social media pages do not mention or indicate the restaurant is closed.

To see some of the other recent business closings, and openings, check out Chapelboro’s Mind Your Business series.

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