National restaurant chain closing company sites. 2 in Michigan on list
Tex-Mex chain On The Border, which has two locations in Michigan, both near Grand Rapids, is closing company-owned stores nationally.
The chain is closing all company-owned locations and is evaluating the future of the brand, according to a statement emailed to The Oklahoman.
“On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina has made the difficult decision to move forward with a significant transition in its restaurant operations, which will include the closing of company-owned locations by end of day Friday, June 12, 2026,” OTB Hospitality wrote in a statement emailed to The Oklahoman.
The chain has two locations in Michigan, 3676 Potomac Circle SW in Grandville, and 3195 28th St. in Kentwood.
The chain previously closed an Allen Park location in 2025.
On the Border closed more than 70 locations after the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in March 2025.
A group of 40 restaurants that closed in February 2025 included four Michigan locations: Auburn Hills, Holland, Novi and Westland.
What happened to On the Border?
On the Border Mexican Grill & Cantina filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2025 after closing dozens of restaurants, court documents showed at the time.
At the time of filing, On the Border had 60 company-operated restaurants and listed estimated assets and estimated liabilities between $10 million and $50 million.
Franchise locations in South Dakota, Florida, Nevada, California and South Korea will remain open as they operate independently, according to the statement.
Nation's Restaurant News reported in March 2025 that bankruptcy documents filed in the Georgia Northern Bankruptcy Court showed the casual-dining chain was more than $25 million in debt, with more than 10,000 creditors. In 2023, Technomic data showed 120 On the Border restaurants portfolio-wide, but according to the bankruptcy filing, that number was down to 80 units (60 company-owned, and 20 franchised).
What is On the Border?
On the Border Mexican Grill & Cantina is a Tex-Mex style restaurant chain founded in 1982, the chain's website says.
Only 12 years after the opening of the restaurant, Brinker International acquired the company and opened the first franchised location. By 2001, more than 100 restaurants were open across the U.S. and in 2007, the restaurant went international, opening locations in South Korea.
In 2010 the company, as well as 160 restaurants, was sold to Golden Gate Capital, which then turned around to sell it to Argonne Capital Group in 2014, court records say.
Houston-based Pappas Restaurants planned in 2025 to acquire On the Border Mexican Grill & Cantina following an auction process for the Dallas-based chain.
Contributing: Fernando Cervantes Jr., USA TODAY