Sacramento Mexican institution is closing after more than 50 years in business
A longtime family-owned Mexican staple in Sacramento is shutting its doors Sunday, citing financial concerns.
524 Mexican Restaurant and Cantina, 3830 Northgate Blvd. in South Natomas, announced on Instagram that Sunday would be its final day in operation after more than 50 years in the capital region.
Luisa Fonseca, one of the restaurant’s owners, told The Sacramento Bee that rent prices and competition from other Mexican restaurants became too overwhelming for the restaurant to continue operating, as sales dropped significantly in the last two years.
“It’s devastating to the family ... (closing) wasn’t an easy decision,” she said. “We want to thank everybody for all the years of patronage.”
The Fonseca family started a GoFundMe to raise funds to prevent the restaurant from shuttering. The goal was to raise $50,000, and as of Friday afternoon, only $775 had been donated.
“524 Mexican Restaurant was open by our grandfather, Señor Miguel Gomez, in 1973 but, sadly, things have started to come to an end and our hope is to keep his legacy alive,” the GoFundMe description reads. “We are in hopes of rekindling and keeping the flame alive to keep our grandparent’s restaurant alive.”
A farewell event is planned at 524 Mexican from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday with food, drinks and “funk oldies” playing through the restaurant, according to an Instagram post.
In 2010, the restaurant moved into its Northgate Boulevard location just south of Interstate 80, according to the GoFundMe. It had moved from its longtime Alkali Flat home at 524 12th St., where Thai-Lao restaurant Hiso currently resides.
In 2024, Bee readers named 524 Mexican one of the most underrated Mexican restaurants in the Sacramento area.
This story was originally published May 9, 2025 at 3:29 PM.
