TUCSON, AZ (July 2, 2025) – After more than three decades serving up Sonoran hot dogs to generations of Tucsonans, the original El Güero Canelo at 5201 S. 12th Avenue will permanently close on July 7.
But the closure will be brief.
Owner Daniel Contreras, who first introduced the Sonoran hot dog to Tucson from a small food cart in 1993, is preparing to open a brand-new, much larger restaurant next door later this month. The highly anticipated two-story building has been under construction for nearly two years.
“We’re at the point where all that’s really left is to make a parking lot—and, sadly, that’s going to be where the old building is,” said Gregorio Contreras, Daniel’s son and the company’s marketing chief. “We hope to open the drive-thru in the next few weeks and have the building fully open by the end of July.”
Demolition of the original building is expected to begin shortly after the July 7 closing. The new restaurant, located on the same property at 5201 S. 12th Avenue, will feature an upgraded kitchen, rooftop dining, and improved ventilation. While the dining room size will remain similar, the layout and amenities are being designed to elevate the customer experience.
The flagship location was never a conventional restaurant. It evolved from a humble cart into a small kitchen with an adjacent enclosed pavilion-style dining area, becoming a cultural and culinary landmark. Since then, El Güero Canelo has expanded to include full-service locations at 2480 N. Oracle Road and 5802 E. 22nd Street, as well as a carnicería at 4519 S. 12th Avenue.
That butcher shop, Carnicería El Güero Canelo, will also relocate into the new building alongside the restaurant.
“Our main clientele is the Tucson community,” Gregorio said. “Yes, people come from all over the world now, but it’s the local support that has made us who we are.”
El Güero Canelo has garnered national recognition, including features on the Food Network and in major publications. In 2018, Daniel Contreras earned one of the food industry’s highest honors: a James Beard Award.
In addition to the Tucson operations, Contreras also owns a bakery in his hometown of Magdalena, Sonora, where the restaurant’s signature soft, slightly sweet buns are baked fresh and shipped in.
As one chapter ends, another begins for this Tucson icon—bringing the same Sonoran flavors to a new home just steps away.