Azul, a Mexican restaurant mainstay in Midtown Sacramento, will close after 19 years

The Abridged version:

• Azul Mexican Food & Tequila Bar will close Saturday after 19 years at 1050 20th St. in Midtown Sacramento.
• Owned by brothers Carlos and Jose Ulloa, who also owned Pizzeria Urbano next door for a time, it served Jalisco-inspired food in an urban setting.
• The brothers thanked guests for nearly two decades of shared meals and celebrations.

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Azul Mexican Food & Tequila Bar is closing after 19 years in Midtown Sacramento’s MARRS Building, owners Carlos and Jose Ulloa announced Tuesday on social media.

The restaurant and bar at 1050 20th St. will serve customers for the last time on Saturday, according to a post written in Spanish as well as English.

“For nearly two decades, we’ve had the privilege of welcoming you, celebrating special moments with you, sharing our food and traditions, and creating memories that we will carry with us forever,” the post read. “Thank you to every person who has ever sat at our table, celebrated a birthday, enjoyed a special dinner, shared a meal with friends, or simply stopped by.”

The two brothers opened Azul in late 2007, not long after the MARRS Building debuted at 20th and J streets. In the nearly two decades that followed, it became a Midtown staple for items such as tortilla soup, grilled mahi-mahi tacos and carne asada plates, with longtime staff members and happy hour discounts from 3-6 p.m. on weekdays.

Azul blended down-home dishes, some of which were inspired by family recipes from the Mexican state of Jalisco, within the MARRS Building’s metal beams and urban setting. A few outdoor tables allowed guests to soak up sunlight before continuing on to neighbors such as LowBrau or The Depot.

“We leave with hearts full of gratitude. Thank you for being part of our journey for these 19 years,” the post read.

The Ulloa brothers also owned Pizzeria Urbano, a late-night spot next to Azul that closed amid the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.