Full Breakdown
Salad and Go Announces Permanent Closure of All Arizona and Nevada Locations
8/5/2026, 8:50:04 PM
Core Event: Chapter 11 Filing Leads to Full Shutdown on August 5, 2026
Salad and Go, the Arizona-originated drive-thru salad chain, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and announced that every remaining restaurant will cease operations permanently, with the final day of service scheduled for August 5, 2026. The company communicated the decision to customers via an email the evening before the shutdown.
Background & Context
The chain was founded in Gilbert, Arizona, in 2013 by husband-and-wife team Tony and Roushan Christofellis. After a disagreement with private-equity investors, the founders exited the business completely by 2021 and later launched a separate concept, Angie’s Food Concepts. Roughly five years ago, Salad and Go was sold to new ownership, which pursued aggressive expansion into Arizona, Nevada, Oklahoma and Texas.
In September 2025 the company announced the closure of more than 40 stores nationwide. Early in 2026 it shuttered all Texas and Oklahoma locations. The July 2026 Cyclospora outbreak—though the chain was not implicated—further eroded consumer confidence, according to the company’s statement.
Timeline
- 2013 – First Salad and Go opens in Gilbert.
- 2021 – Founders Tony and Roushan Christofellis leave the company.
- ~2018 – New ownership acquires Salad and Go (approximately five years before 2026).
- September 2025 – Announcement to close >40 stores.
- January 2026 – All Texas and Oklahoma locations close.
- July 2026 – Nationwide Cyclospora outbreak reported.
- August 5, 2026 – Final day of service for all remaining Arizona and Nevada locations.
Data & Statistics
- Location count: AZFamily reports 70 drive-thru locations operating in Arizona and Nevada; KJZZ notes “more than 60” locations still open in Phoenix, Tucson and Nevada at the time of closure.
- Cyclospora outbreak: The CDC recorded 10,468 laboratory-confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis since May 1, an increase of more than 3,700 cases since the July 28 report, with 517 hospitalizations and two deaths nationwide.
Official Statements & Responses
The founders posted on Instagram that the closure is “heartbreaking,” expressing gratitude to employees, customers, suppliers and communities that supported the brand since its inception.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the exact number of operating stores at the time of shutdown—AZFamily lists 70 locations, while KJZZ references “more than 60.” No source provides a definitive, audited count. Additionally, while the company links the Cyclospora outbreak to weakened consumer confidence, public health officials have not identified Salad and Go as a source of the infection, leaving the precise impact of the outbreak on the chain’s sales unverified.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This is a painful day for everyone who built, worked for and loved Salad and Go,” — Mike Tattersfield, go CEO
- “Trying to get something to eat, get some rest and get out of the elements and I was just watching the news ABC15,” — Go Marc Johnson
What’s Next
All Salad and Go restaurants will remain closed after August 5, 2026. No public plans for re-opening, sale, or brand revival have been announced.
