Tom McCusker behind the counter at his shop on S. 44th Street (Archived photo).

It’s an end of an era for neighborhood taco and burrito lovers. After nearly eight years of operation as Honest Tom’s Taco Shop near 44th and Spruce (and a few more years as a food truck prior to that), well-known local restaurateur Tom McCusker is closing his business at the end of this month. But here’s some good news: Honest Tom’s kitchen staff are planning to take over the space and reopen as a new Mexican restaurant next month, according to a report by Foobooz. 

A year ago, McCusker overhauled his shop’s menu to 100 percent plant-based (aka vegan), and the shop’s name was modified into Honest Tom’s Plant-Based Taco Shop. One key item that was missing in the menu after the switch was breakfast. Local non-vegan Honest Tom’s customers were devastated. The completely plant-based menu received mixed reviews and many were wondering whether the shop would be as successful as before after the switch.

McCusker’s last day at the shop will be July 30. After that he’s leaving the restaurant business and planning to start a produce delivery/pickup program tentatively called “Fruitadelphia” (read his Instagram post here).

After July 30, the shop at 44th and Spruce will close for a couple of weeks while the new owners, longtime Honest Tom’s kitchen staff members Alvaro, Maria and Eli, will be working to turn it into a new restaurant.