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.

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our newsletter.

Related Stories
‹
'What Can We Do To Help?': How Chapel Hill Is Offering Support to Damaged W. Franklin Shops
Chapel Hill leaders met once again Wednesday with the business owners of five West Franklin Street shops affected by a recent fire.
West Franklin Street Businesses Begin to Share Re-Opening Plans After Fire
After a fire at Mediterranean Deli in Chapel Hill ravaged the restaurant and many local shops around it this weekend, the businesses are assessing the damage and beginning to share plans for reopening. The fire, which burned for several hours in the 400 block of West Franklin Street, left five businesses affected by either the […]
Chapel Hill-Carrboro Shares Support of Mediterranean Deli, W. Franklin Businesses After Fire
As a fire burned on the roof of Mediterranean Deli Saturday afternoon, many in Chapel Hill and miles from the raptly followed updates on social media. The blaze, which started around 3 p.m. and is being investigated by the Chapel Hill Fire Department, severely damaged the popular restaurant — while smoke and water from firefighters […]
Detours Planned for Chapel Hill Transit During Marker Unveiling Ceremony
The Town of Chapel Hill announced detours to buses that normally run on West Franklin Street for Friday, as a ceremony celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Chapel Hill Nine closes the street. Chapel Hill Transit shared detoured routes for the CW, F and J lines, which will begin at 3:30 p.m. on Friday and […]
Shooting Near W. Franklin Street Injures 1; Chapel Hill Police Arrest Suspect
The Chapel Hill Police Department is investigating a shooting along West Franklin Street Thursday evening which sent one person to the hospital.
Honduran, Latin American Food Truck Prepares to Open W. Franklin Street Restaurant on Sep. 5
Chapel Hill is about to feature a new addition to its restaurant lineup: The Latin Effect, which is expanding from its food truck operations.
Tech Company Announces New Corporate Headquarters on West Franklin Street
IotaComm, Inc., a wireless communications and data services company, will be relocating its corporate headquarters to the top floor of the office space at 200 West Franklin Street in downtown Chapel Hill. “We’re thrilled IotaComm is calling Chapel Hill home,” said David Putnam, the town’s economic development director. “Once again, Chapel Hill stands out among […]
House Fire In Chapel Hill Draws Response From Multiple Fire Departments
The Chapel Hill Fire Department was one of multiple departments and emergency response groups that responded to a house fire Thursday afternoon.
Chapel Hill's Mediterranean Deli Now Targeting Late Spring Reopening After 2023 Fire
During an interview with 97.9 The Hill, Mediterranean Deli owner Jamil Kadoura said the business could reopen in the late spring.
Ay Por Dios! Permanently Closes in Chapel Hill; Owner Open to New Concept
Owner Edy Barahona confirmed the closure to Chapelboro on Tuesday, after Ay Por Dios! had been closed during its normal hours the prior week.
›