Mexican Hotspot Mi Mero Mole to Shutter SE Division Location

Nick Zukin’s popular Mi Mero Mole will close its original location at 5026 SE Division St. in March, WWeek reports. An exact closing date has not been announced, but Zukin confirms a local food truck will take over the space.

By many measurements, SE Division Street is prime restaurant real estate, with massive condos dwarfing the corner of SE Division and 50th of late, near Mi Mero Mole. But Zukin says he saw an “almost instant 20% drop” when SE Division was narrowed to just two lanes.

Zukin also took a jab at the new clientele moving into the area. He told WWeek:

“We get a lot of customers who come in and ask for carnitas or carne asada and when they find out we don't have it, they walk out... I'm not going to half-ass some grey beef trimmings from a bag just because a bro can't be bothered to try something new."

Zukin is the founder and former co-owner of downtown’s Kenny & Zukes, and he opened Mi Mero Mole in 2011. His restaurant has since earned a place as one of the city’s top spots for Mexican, especially for its guisado-style tacos. Fortunately his second location, Mi Mero Mole Old Town/Chinatown, will remain open.

• Mi Mero Mole [Official]
• Mi Mero Mole Closing on Division Street Because of Traffic, Unadventurous Diners [WWeek]
• All Previous Mi Mero Mole Coverage [EPDX]