07/15/2025
It is with profound sadness that we announce the closure of El Tres on August 23rd after 9 incredible years of serving Thunder Bay. Our landlord is expanding his business into our space, and unfortunately, it is not economically feasible for us to relocate to a new location.
Our journey began 9 years ago during a trip to San Diego, where Chef Allan Rebelo immersed himself in Mexican cuisine. While there, he was granted a stage at a fine dining Mexican restaurant owned by the renowned Chef Javier Plascencia. This experience ignited Chef Allan's passion for Mexican food, learning traditional tortilla making and other authentic dishes. He returned to Thunder Bay with newfound excitement and knowledge, and in 2016, El Tres opened as the city’s only full-service Mexican restaurant.
Looking back, it’s clear we were ahead of the curve. In 2021, we expanded into Goods & Co. with Poco Mas, a quick-service Mexican concept that operated until January 2025. Though we are no longer a part of the Eaton's Centre revitalization project, we remain excited about the growth and development happening in the waterfront district and continue to support the area's revitalization. In August 2022, we were also able to expand El Tres to include a stunning garage rooftop patio. Sadly, this will be the last summer to enjoy the view from our beloved patio.
We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to Thunder Bay for all of the love and support you have shown us over the years. Your loyalty has been the backbone of our success. We’ve had the privilege of partnering with incredible local businesses such as UpRiver Running, Heartbeat Hot Sauce, Italian Touch Latin Dancing, and many others. Your community support has been invaluable.
We also want to express our deepest gratitude to all of our suppliers—Shaw Bakery, Maltese Grocery, Rose n Crantz, Debruins, La Vaquita, SGBC, Dawson Trail Brewery, Lakehead Beer Company and many more. Without your dedication, we could not have delivered the quality of food and service that we strived for.
Most importantly, we want to thank our incredible staff, both past and present. Over the years, you’ve not only been our colleagues, but many of you have become lifelong friends. We truly couldn’t have done it without you, and we are so grateful for your hard work, passion, and unwavering commitment.
Gift certificates will be accepted until our closure, and we hope to see as many of you as possible during these final weeks.
Thank you, Thunder Bay, for the memories, the support, and the love.
Warmly,�The El Tres Team
