PHOENIX, AZ — Salad And Go, the Phoenix-founded drive-thru salad chain that built a loyal following across Arizona and beyond, is closing all of its locations after filing for bankruptcy.
The company will serve its final customers Wednesday, according to an announcement released Tuesday.
"This is a painful day for everyone who built, worked for and loved Salad and Go," CEO Mike Tattersfield said in a statement. "Our mission was brought to life every day by an extraordinary team and embraced by guests who made us part of their routines."
The company filed voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy petitions in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division. The closure came as a surprise to many employees, with some saying on social media they did not know their shifts would be their last.
Founded in Gilbert in 2013 by Tony and Roushan Christofellis, Salad And Go was built around a simple concept: affordable, healthier food served through a drive-thru-only model. The chain expanded quickly in Arizona and later into other states before the founders sold the company in 2021.
In a statement, Salad And Go officials cited several challenges behind the closure, including changing consumer demand, previous growth challenges and rising costs.
"While Salad and Go earned the support and loyalty of a deeply passionate community, the business was ultimately unable to overcome sustained pressure on consumer demand, past strategic growth challenges and rising costs," the company said.
Officials also referenced a July Cyclospora outbreak affecting the broader food industry, noting Salad And Go was not implicated but said the incident "weakened confidence across the industry and compounded these challenges."
Court filings show an Oregon-based holding company connected to the founders of Dutch Bros Coffee has agreed to purchase Salad And Go's assets, including its Arizona and Nevada locations. It remains unclear whether those restaurants will reopen under new ownership or operate under a different name.
The closure affects several Phoenix-area locations, including restaurants near:
The chain's founders shared their reaction to the closure on social media, calling the news "bittersweet" after building the company around the idea that healthier food should be affordable and accessible.
"Thirteen years ago, we started Salad and Go with a simple belief that great-tasting, good-for-you food should be affordable for everyone," Tony and Roushan Christofellis wrote.
The founders said that same goal continues through their newer fast-casual concept, Angie's.
"To everyone who was ever a part of the Salad and Go journey with us, we thank you," they wrote. "To everyone joining us at Angie's, we're just getting started."
For now, Salad And Go customers have until Wednesday to visit remaining locations before the company closes its doors.
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