Mexican fast food chain Guzman y Gomez says they remain committed to opening their first Tasmanian store, despite a lengthy search for the perfect location continuing.
The company first announced plans to enter the Tasmanian market in August 2024, exclusively revealing to Pulse that it was “actively looking at sites in Hobart”.
However, more than a year later, no store has opened.
A GYG spokesperson said the company continues to see Hobart as a priority market.
“Tasmania is one of GYG’s most requested location and we know there is strong demand from locals who already know and love the brand,” they told Pulse this week.
“As with all new markets, our focus is on finding the right AAA location to lay the foundations for long term success in Tasmania.”
The spokesperson said the company is on a mission to “reinvent fast food” and remains excited about bringing their brand to Hobart “when the time is right”.
Tasmania remains the only Australian state without a GYG outlet, while the chain operates over 230 stores across the rest of the country.
The Mexican-inspired chain serves burritos, nachos, tacos and quesadillas. It was founded in Sydney in 2006 by New Yorkers Steven Marks and Robert Hazan.
When GYG first announced its Tasmanian expansion plans, then-Premier Jeremy Rockliff welcomed the news as “awesome”.
“It’s fantastic to see more brands recognising the value of crossing the Bass Strait and investing in Tasmania,” he said at the time.
If GYG does establish in Hobart, it will compete against established Mexican chain Zambrero, which operates stores in Hobart, Launceston and Devonport.
