Best Friends Forever is closing its Carytown location. (J. Elias O’Neal)
In the midst of reopening their former Carytown taco shop in new Scott’s Addition digs, the owners of Don’t Look Back are shutting down their other restaurant on Cary Street.
Best Friends Forever on Friday is closing its shop at 2915 W. Cary St., where it launched about a year ago as Eleven Months.
Co-owner Hamooda Shami said the closure wasn’t a function of BFF’s performance, but rather the need to focus on the brisk business they’ve experienced at Don’t Look Back Triple, the recently opened reincarnation of their Carytown taco shop that was displaced 10 months ago by a fire.
“We were in the black; the restaurant was performing well,” Shami said of BFF. “We just didn’t anticipate that we would be so slammed when we opened Don’t Look Back Triple … it’s been relentless.”
He is working with a local, independent operator to take over the Carytown location, but did not disclose details about the pending transaction.
Shami and business partner Nate Gutierrez opened Don’t Look Back Triple about a week ago in the long-dormant Triple Lounge space at 3306 W. Broad St. in Scott’s Addition – drawing in lines of taco fans after the restaurant’s 10-month hiatus.
“We’re happy because people didn’t forget about us,” Shami said. “Usually after 10 months, that’s it.”
Shami said the volume at the new space placed tremendous demand on staff, prompting him to shutter BFF and shift its remaining employees to the Scott’s Addition joint.
“Having to let go of Best Friends is bittersweet, but I’ve been in the restaurant industry for a long time, and after what we experienced at Don’t Look Back Triple, closing Best Friends was one of the easiest decisions I’ve ever had to make.”
With the closure, Shami said the remaining wait and cook staff at BFF have been transferred over to Don’t Look Back Triple.
Don’t Look Back Triple will be closed Monday for training, he said, but is open daily from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.
“We’re going to have some additional training for the people that have come on board at Don’t Look Back,” he said. “But after the first week we had, we’re going to also use that time to take a breather.”
The Scott’s Addition location is nearly triple the size of its former digs in Carytown, Shami said, with 100 seats. The location also includes a gaming area with three pool tables (holdovers from its days as a pool hall), and a shuffleboard that’s on the way.
Like its former Carytown location, patrons will find many of their favorites on the menu, including shredded chicken, chorizo and shrimp tacos served gringo-style with cheese, lettuce, sour cream and salsa; or traditional with cilantro, chopped red onion and lime. The location also will offer burritos, quesadillas, nachos and Frito pie. Beer, wine and margaritas also are on the menu, as is a kid’s menu.
Meanwhile, the duo is working to open Don’t Look Back South, another new location at 7524 Forest Hill Ave. They hope to have it ready by summer, Shami said.
“We’ve got a lot happening, and it’s all good,” he said. “We’re loving the outpouring of love and support from everybody.”
Best Friends Forever is closing its Carytown location. (J. Elias O’Neal)
In the midst of reopening their former Carytown taco shop in new Scott’s Addition digs, the owners of Don’t Look Back are shutting down their other restaurant on Cary Street.
Best Friends Forever on Friday is closing its shop at 2915 W. Cary St., where it launched about a year ago as Eleven Months.
Co-owner Hamooda Shami said the closure wasn’t a function of BFF’s performance, but rather the need to focus on the brisk business they’ve experienced at Don’t Look Back Triple, the recently opened reincarnation of their Carytown taco shop that was displaced 10 months ago by a fire.
“We were in the black; the restaurant was performing well,” Shami said of BFF. “We just didn’t anticipate that we would be so slammed when we opened Don’t Look Back Triple … it’s been relentless.”
He is working with a local, independent operator to take over the Carytown location, but did not disclose details about the pending transaction.
Shami and business partner Nate Gutierrez opened Don’t Look Back Triple about a week ago in the long-dormant Triple Lounge space at 3306 W. Broad St. in Scott’s Addition – drawing in lines of taco fans after the restaurant’s 10-month hiatus.
“We’re happy because people didn’t forget about us,” Shami said. “Usually after 10 months, that’s it.”
Shami said the volume at the new space placed tremendous demand on staff, prompting him to shutter BFF and shift its remaining employees to the Scott’s Addition joint.
“Having to let go of Best Friends is bittersweet, but I’ve been in the restaurant industry for a long time, and after what we experienced at Don’t Look Back Triple, closing Best Friends was one of the easiest decisions I’ve ever had to make.”
With the closure, Shami said the remaining wait and cook staff at BFF have been transferred over to Don’t Look Back Triple.
Don’t Look Back Triple will be closed Monday for training, he said, but is open daily from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.
“We’re going to have some additional training for the people that have come on board at Don’t Look Back,” he said. “But after the first week we had, we’re going to also use that time to take a breather.”
The Scott’s Addition location is nearly triple the size of its former digs in Carytown, Shami said, with 100 seats. The location also includes a gaming area with three pool tables (holdovers from its days as a pool hall), and a shuffleboard that’s on the way.
Like its former Carytown location, patrons will find many of their favorites on the menu, including shredded chicken, chorizo and shrimp tacos served gringo-style with cheese, lettuce, sour cream and salsa; or traditional with cilantro, chopped red onion and lime. The location also will offer burritos, quesadillas, nachos and Frito pie. Beer, wine and margaritas also are on the menu, as is a kid’s menu.
Meanwhile, the duo is working to open Don’t Look Back South, another new location at 7524 Forest Hill Ave. They hope to have it ready by summer, Shami said.
“We’ve got a lot happening, and it’s all good,” he said. “We’re loving the outpouring of love and support from everybody.”
Has it been 10 months? Its feels like 4 years since I’ve enjoyed DLB’s famous (and always limited quantity) chicken skin tacos – I look forward to trying out the Triple location, but really thrilled they’re coming to Forest Hill! Welcome back DLB, you’re success is well deserved…