Guzman y Gomez Abruptly Exits the US Market and Faces a Massive Employee Lawsuit
Chicago, Saturday, 30 May 2026.
After abruptly closing all US locations to halt financial losses, Australian chain Guzman y Gomez now faces a class-action lawsuit from over 500 employees demanding legally required severance pay.
A Sudden Retreat from the American Market
On May 21, 2026, employees of the Australian-based Mexican restaurant chain Guzman y Gomez were internally notified of the company’s immediate departure from the United States [5]. By the following day, May 22, 2026, the company publicly confirmed the permanent closure of all eight of its American locations, ending a six-year experiment in the highly competitive US fast-casual market [1][2][5]. The shuttered restaurants were entirely concentrated in the greater Chicago area, spanning locations including Naperville, Bucktown, Schaumburg, Evanston, Crystal Lake, Deerfield, Des Plaines, and Buffalo Grove [1][2][3]. Initially launching in Naperville in January 2020, the brand had tested a comprehensive menu of burritos, tacos, nachos, and enchiladas, but ultimately failed to gain the necessary traction to expand further [1][2][3].