It happened fast. One day you’re dipping a salty chip into that specific, slightly smoky salsa at Anejo’s, and the next, the "Closed" sign is up for good. For a long time, that spot on 2nd Street South was a staple for the St. Cloud and Waite Park crowd. It wasn't just about the food. It was that specific vibe—the kind of place where the booths felt familiar and the margaritas were consistently cold. When Anejos Mexican Restaurant Waite Park closed, it left a massive hole in the local dining scene that people are still talking about years later.
Honestly, the closure caught a lot of regulars off guard. It wasn't some slow, painful decline that everyone saw coming from a mile away. It was more of a "wait, did I read that right?" moment on social media. People loved that place.
The Real Story Behind the Empty Booths
To understand why a popular spot like Anejo’s shuts its doors, you have to look at the brutal reality of the Central Minnesota restaurant market. Success isn't just about having a killer taco recipe. It's about margins, labor, and the shifting tides of what people want to eat on a Tuesday night.
Anejos wasn't just a random taco joint. It was part of a small, localized ecosystem of Mexican dining. When the Waite Park location shuttered, it wasn't because the food suddenly got bad. It was a business pivot. The ownership group, which also operated the popular Anejos in Sartell, eventually decided to consolidate and focus their energy elsewhere.
Running two locations so close together—Waite Park and Sartell—is a double-edged sword. You get more brand recognition, sure. But you also end up competing with yourself. If you're a fan of the brand and you live in St. Cloud, are you going to the Waite Park one or driving an extra five minutes to Sartell? Eventually, the numbers didn't make sense to keep both footprints active.
They closed the Waite Park doors in late 2019. It’s wild to think about the timing. Just months before the entire world flipped upside down due to the pandemic, Anejos had already made their exit from that specific building. In hindsight, it looks like a stroke of accidental genius or maybe just very keen business intuition. If they had tried to weather 2020 with two large-scale sit-down restaurants in the same metro area, the story might have ended much differently for the entire brand.
What Replaced the Waite Park Staple?
If you drive past 100 2nd St S now, you won't see any traces of the old Mexican décor. The transition was relatively quick. After Anejos Mexican Restaurant Waite Park closed, the building didn't sit vacant for as long as some other ill-fated spots in the area (we've all seen those "cursed" locations that change hands every six months).
The space was taken over by Nautical Bowls.
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Talk about a 180-degree turn. You went from heavy plates of enchiladas and refried beans to superfood acai bowls and gluten-free toppings. It’s a perfect snapshot of how dining trends changed in the late 2010s. The "big plate" sit-down experience started losing ground to the "fast-casual, health-focused" model. Nautical Bowls tapped into a demographic that Waite Park hadn't fully served yet—the gym-goers from nearby fitness centers and the quick-lunch crowd looking for something that wouldn't put them in a food coma by 2:00 PM.
The Sartell Connection: Is Anejos Still Around?
Here is where people get confused. I see it on local forums all the time. Someone will post asking if Anejos is gone forever.
No.
The Sartell Anejos location is very much alive. In fact, many would argue it’s better than ever because the management was able to funnel all their resources, staff, and focus into one kitchen. If you’re craving that specific Anejo’s flavor profile—that specific cheese sauce or the way they season their carne asada—you just have to head over to the Pine Cone Road area.
It’s a different vibe, though. The Sartell location feels a bit more modern, maybe a bit more "suburban upscale" compared to the older, more lived-in feel of the Waite Park spot. Some regulars missed the grit and the layout of the old place, but for most, the trade-off was worth it to keep the brand in the community.
Why Local Favorites Disappear (Even When They're Busy)
We have this habit of thinking that if the parking lot is full, the business is rich. That’s rarely the case in the midwest restaurant circuit. A full parking lot in Waite Park doesn't account for:
- Skyrocketing Lease Rates: That corridor near the Crossroads Center is prime real estate. If a lease renewal comes up and the landlord wants a 20% bump, a restaurant with thin margins is in trouble.
- Labor Shortages: Even before the "Great Resignation" became a headline, finding reliable kitchen staff in St. Cloud was getting harder.
- Supply Chain Volatility: The cost of avocados and high-quality beef fluctuates wildly. If you can't pass those costs onto the customer without them complaining, you eat the loss.
When Anejos Mexican Restaurant Waite Park closed, it was a symptom of these pressures. It’s often easier to run one highly profitable location than two "okay" ones.
The Shift in Waite Park Dining
Waite Park is currently in the middle of a massive identity shift. For decades, it was the land of the "Big Box" and the "Giant Franchise." You went there for Target and stayed for Red Lobster or Olive Garden. But lately, we're seeing a push toward smaller, more specialized footprints.
The closure of Anejos and the rise of Nautical Bowls in its place is the "canary in the coal mine." People are trading the two-hour dinner for a fifteen-minute nutritious bowl. They're trading the sprawling floor plan for a streamlined, efficient counter-service model. It’s less "hospitality" and more "utility."
Is that a bad thing? Maybe. If you miss the days of lingering over a basket of chips while catching up with a friend, the new landscape feels a little cold. But from a business perspective, it’s the only way many of these locations can survive the current economic climate.
How to Find Your New "Spot" in St. Cloud
If you're still mourning the loss of the Waite Park Anejos, you've actually got some pretty incredible options nearby. The St. Cloud area has quietly become a bit of a hub for authentic and high-quality Mexican food.
- Gila Terra: If you want something that feels a bit more "foodie" and artisanal, this is a strong contender. Their flavors are complex and they don't rely on the standard "everything covered in yellow cheese" trope.
- Bravo Burritos: A total institution. It’s not "traditional" Mexican in the sense of street tacos, but it is a St. Cloud staple that has survived everything the economy has thrown at it.
- The Food Trucks: Don't sleep on the trucks that park near the East Side or in the industrial areas of Waite Park. That’s where you’ll find the real-deal al pastor.
What You Should Do Next
If you’re a former Anejos Waite Park regular, don't just settle for a chain restaurant.
Go visit the Sartell location. It’s important to support the businesses that choose to stay in our community, even if they have to consolidate to do it. The owners made a tough call to close one branch to save the brand, and so far, that bet has paid off.
Also, keep an eye on the 2nd Street corridor. With the way Waite Park is developing, we’re likely to see more of these "quick-turn" business changes. The best way to keep your favorite local spot open is to show up on the "off" nights—the Tuesdays and Wednesdays when the dining room is half-empty. That’s when your business actually keeps the lights on.
The story of why Anejos Mexican Restaurant Waite Park closed isn't a tragedy of a failing business. It's a story of a business growing up, getting leaner, and adapting to a world that wants its food faster and its overhead lower. It's a bummer we lost that specific location, but the flavor is still just a ten-minute drive away.
Next Steps for Local Foodies
- Verify current hours: Always check the Sartell Anejos social media pages before heading out, as mid-week hours can shift based on staffing.
- Explore the 2nd St corridor: Take a walk through the area to see how Nautical Bowls and other new neighbors have transformed the old "Restaurant Row" vibe into something more modern.
- Support the independents: Try one new non-chain restaurant in the St. Cloud/Waite Park area this month to help maintain the local culinary diversity.