Inside, the lights are off, the shelves are empty and the chairs are gone. Huaco Lounge is officially closed for good. The restaurant on Mary Ave. saw a resurgence in business due to completed road construction at the end of summer in 2024, but it hasn’t been able to stay at that rate, said owner Sebastian Reyes.

Reyes was hindered by opening Huaco Lounge, a continuation of Huaco Eatery in Union Hall, in the midst of construction that seemed to never end. “[The street] was closed for two years. It was super slow,” Reyes said. “Now it’s open, it’s better.”

With a variety of fast food options at our fingertips, it’s easy to overlook local food options when treating yourself to a meal out. However, Waco has lots of affordable, healthy and delicious food options within a few miles of campus.