Switchback Taco Shuts Down in Downtown Durango After Seven Years

Paper went up on the windows at 741 Main Ave. sometime Sunday, and by Monday a construction crew was already pulling at the bar inside. Switchback Taco, the Mexican-inspired street food spot that Lindsay and Dan Gearig opened in downtown Durango in 2019, has permanently closed after seven years in business.

The restaurant's outgoing voicemail captured the goodbye simply: "It has been an amazing seven years, and we are now permanently closed."

But the closure may be less an ending than a reset. Signs posted on the front doors advertised "something wild" arriving "in the next few weeks," and a construction crew visible through the paper-covered windows appeared to be already rebuilding the bar. The Gearigs took over a space that had previously housed Mountain Taco, and regulars say they filled it with birria tacos, fresh-squeezed margaritas, and a back patio that became a fixture for locals and visitors alike.

The announcement on Instagram drew an outpouring of reactions, ranging from grief to cautious anticipation. "My wife is devastated (I as well)," one commenter wrote. "The one spot we'd visit when we arrived in town. Delicious birria." Another took a more optimistic view: "Im so excited for the rebirth of the restaurant and space! I know it's in good hands with you and your team!"

For Dolores County residents who make the drive along U.S. 491 and U.S. 160 into Durango for errands, appointments, and nights out, Switchback was a reliable stop on Main Avenue. Its birria menu, which the owners had expanded and retooled in recent years, had become the restaurant's signature, alongside happy hour specials that ran Monday through Friday from 2 to 5 p.m.

The Gearigs have not announced what concept will replace Switchback at the 741 Main Ave. location, but the pace of construction and the cryptic signage suggest the turnaround will be quick. Southwest Colorado's dining scene has seen considerable churn since the pandemic, and a rapid pivot by an established ownership team will be watched closely by the regional restaurant community.