UPDATE: City Econ. Development Guru Sheds Light on Chevy's Closing

UPDATE: Gaithersburg's Director of Economic Development Tom Lonergan says Chevy's may have closed down because the company has been in financial trouble, but the closing won't do much to hurt the city.

"Chevy's parent company has been in bankruptcy for some time," Lonergan said in an email to Patch. "We are obviously disappointed anytime a business shutters its doors, but we are also confident that between the site's prime location and the expertise at Federal Realty [Investment Trust, the site owner], a new quality tenant will soon be secured for the site. Their departure should not be construed as a troubling trend or an ominous harbinger. Overall, things are very much headed in the right direction."

Officials from Real Mex Restaurants have not responded to several requests for comment.

ORIGINAL STORY 2/21: Chevy's Fresh Mex restaurant in the Quince Orchard Plaza shopping center abruptly closed its doors for good this weekend.

Restaurant manager Mimi Sharp said Sunday was their last day of business, but could not comment on the reason.

Attempts to contact the company headquarters were not immediately successful.

The Gaithersburg location, at the corner of Quince Orchard and Clopper Road, has already been removed from the restaurant chain's website, but the location's Facebook page is still active. The only post on the page's wall is from August, 2011, and there is no mention of the closing.

There are 63 Chevy's locations listed on the company's website, most of which are in California, where the chain is based.

There are locations in Greenbelt and Brandywine, MD, as well as Falls Church, Arlington and Alexandria, VA.

Chevy's is owned by Real Mex Restaurants, which also owns El Torito, Acapulco Mexican Restaurant, El Torito Grill, Sinigual, Las Brisas, Casa Gallardo, El Paso Cantina, and Who-Song & Larry's.

Stay tuned to Patch as more details become available.