Bushra Griffith
Lee's Grilled Cheese, a popular food truck that served mainstream grilled cheese and creative concoctions such as the Back Breaker (barbecue pulled pork, macaroni and cheese, and sharp cheddar on toasty bread), ceased operations in 2017. The business, which began in 2010, expanded to a physical storefront location in 2013 but ultimately closed due to a lease dispute. Owner Lee Perez, a pioneer of artisan grilled-cheese sandwiches and food truck cuisine, described the closing as a difficult decision, noting that the business had been successful.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for closing | Lease dispute |
| Owner's decision | Owner Lee Perez decided to move on from the grilled-cheese business |
| Business type | Food truck and restaurant |
| Business model | Mainstream grilled cheese with creative combos |
| Location | Fort Worth, Texas |
| Year of closing | 2017 |
| Years in business | 7 |
| Customer reviews | 4.5 stars on Yelp |
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What You'll Learn
Lee's Grilled Cheese was a popular food truck
The menu at Lee's Grilled Cheese offered mainstream grilled cheese sandwiches, as well as more unique creations such as the Back Breaker, a combination of barbecue pulled pork, macaroni and cheese, and sharp cheddar on toasty bread. The truck was well-received, with many praising their sandwiches as "so good they will take years off your life, but worth it". The food truck also received a rating of 4.5 stars on Yelp.
Due to the success of the food truck, a brick-and-mortar location of Lee's Grilled Cheese was opened in late 2012 or early 2013 on North Tarrant Parkway in Fort Worth. This new storefront location offered an expanded menu, including sandwiches such as a Cuban and the aforementioned Backbreaker. The restaurant proved to be a success, with one review praising the expanded menu.
However, in May 2017, the brick-and-mortar location of Lee's Grilled Cheese closed due to a lease dispute. Despite this setback, the owners decided to continue operating the food truck, with owner Lee Perez expressing his desire to find someone to continue their vision and take the business to the next level. The food truck continued to serve customers in Fort Worth and other locations, with plans to open at the Clearfork Food Park.
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The business expanded to a brick-and-mortar restaurant
Lee's Grilled Cheese started as a food truck in 2010, serving up a variety of grilled cheese sandwiches, including creative combos with meat. The truck travelled across Texas, making appearances in Fort Worth, Dallas, Denton, and Northeast Tarrant cities. Due to its success, a brick-and-mortar restaurant was opened in late 2012 or early 2013 on North Tarrant Parkway in far north Fort Worth. The restaurant offered an expanded menu, including sandwiches like the Cuban and the Backbreaker (pulled pork, macaroni and cheese, and sharp cheddar on toasty bread).
The storefront location of Lee's Grilled Cheese was a busy and popular restaurant, described as a pioneer of artisan grilled-cheese sandwiches and food truck cuisine. However, in 2017, after four years of operation, the brick-and-mortar restaurant closed due to a lease dispute. Owner Lee Perez described the closing as a difficult decision, especially since the business had been doing well and they had just finished a successful National Grilled Cheese Month in April.
Despite the closure of the physical restaurant, the Lee's Grilled Cheese food truck continued to operate and serve customers across Fort Worth. The truck resumed its service, making appearances at various locations, including the Fort Worth Food Park and the Clearfork Food Park. The food truck offered outdoor seating and takeout options, accepting credit card payments for convenience.
The impact of Lee's Grilled Cheese extended beyond its physical presence. It left a lasting impression on the grilled cheese scene in Fort Worth, with its innovative sandwiches and dedication to quality. The closure of the brick-and-mortar restaurant served as a reminder of the challenges faced by small businesses, particularly those in the food industry, where lease disputes and financial issues can arise despite a successful operation.
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The restaurant closed due to a lease dispute
Lee's Grilled Cheese, a popular food truck that evolved into a bustling restaurant, shut down its physical location due to a lease dispute. The closure occurred in 2017, four years after the restaurant's establishment in 2013. Despite the shutdown, the food truck continued to operate, serving customers in central Fort Worth parks.
Lee's Grilled Cheese was known for its innovative grilled cheese sandwiches, often featuring creative combinations of meat and cheese. The Back Breaker, a sandwich consisting of barbecue pulled pork, macaroni and cheese, and sharp cheddar on toasty bread, was one of its notable creations. The restaurant's success led to the opening of a physical location in late 2012 or early 2013 on North Tarrant Parkway in Fort Worth.
The lease dispute that resulted in the closure of the restaurant was unfortunate, especially given the positive feedback the business had received. Owner Lee Perez described the business as "great," and the restaurant had just come off a busy National Grilled Cheese Month in April 2017. The food truck's continued operation after the restaurant's closure ensured that customers could still enjoy their grilled cheese creations.
The decision to close the restaurant was not an easy one for Lee Perez, who had co-founded the business with his wife, Veronica, and Keith Lee Weber. The trio had initially worked for a video game developer but ventured into the food truck business after the company faced financial troubles. Starting with a food truck, they eventually expanded into a physical location, only to have the restaurant close a few years later due to the lease dispute.
The closure of Lee's Grilled Cheese restaurant due to a lease dispute serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by small businesses. Despite the success and popularity of their grilled cheese offerings, external factors can impact the continuity of these ventures. The story of Lee's Grilled Cheese highlights the resilience and adaptability of its owners, who persevered through job losses and financial difficulties to create a beloved food establishment.
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The owner decided to move on from the grilled-cheese business
Lee's Grilled Cheese was a popular food truck that served up a variety of grilled cheese sandwiches, including creative combos with meat and macaroni and cheese. The business first started in 2010 when owner Lee Perez, along with his wife Veronica and Keith Lee Weber, were working for a video game developer that hit financial trouble. They decided to venture into the food truck business, initially planning to sell hot dogs, but then settling on grilled cheese sandwiches.
Lee's Grilled Cheese became so successful that they opened a physical store in late 2012 or early 2013 in North Fort Worth. The store was well-received, with its expanded menu of sandwiches, including the popular "Backbreaker" (barbecue pulled pork, macaroni and cheese, and sharp cheddar on toasty bread).
However, after seven years in the grilled-cheese business, owner Lee Perez decided it was time to move on. In a post on the Lee's Grilled Cheese Facebook page, he announced that he was going "down a new path" and leaving the business. He expressed his desire to find someone who could continue their vision and take it to the next level. The closure of the physical store in 2017 was also due to a lease dispute.
Despite the storefront closure, the food truck continued to serve its loyal customers in central Fort Worth parks. Although Lee decided to move on from the grilled-cheese business, he left a lasting impact on the food scene in Fort Worth, with many customers fondly remembering their unique sandwich creations.
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The food truck continued to operate after the restaurant closed
The Lee's Grilled Cheese food truck in Fort Worth, Texas, was started by Lee Perez, Keith Lee Weber, and Veronica Perez, who were all working for the same video game developer when it hit financial problems. Weber first planned to start a hot dog food truck business, but then settled on grilled cheese sandwiches. Lee Perez lost his job, and the trio decided to get the food truck business up and running to support their families. The truck was a huge success, and in late 2012 or early 2013, they opened a physical restaurant in the city.
However, in May 2017, the restaurant closed due to a lease dispute. The owners stated that the business had been great and that they had just finished a busy National Grilled Cheese Month. The food truck continued to operate after the restaurant closed, with Lee Perez announcing that it would open on Saturday at the Fort Worth Food Park. He also planned future services at the Clearfork Food Park.
The food truck offered a range of grilled cheese sandwiches, including mainstream options and creative concoctions such as the Back Breaker, which consisted of barbecue pulled pork, macaroni and cheese, and sharp cheddar on toasty bread. The truck operated in various locations across Texas, including Fort Worth, Dallas, Denton, Northeast Tarrant cities, and elsewhere. It was a popular choice for many, with long lines often forming at its locations.
The continued operation of the food truck after the restaurant's closure allowed Lee's Grilled Cheese to maintain a presence in the community and continue serving their beloved grilled cheese sandwiches to their loyal customers. The food truck provided a more flexible and mobile option for the business, allowing them to reach a wider audience and adapt to different locations and events. It also reduced overhead costs compared to a physical restaurant, making it a more sustainable option for the owners.
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Frequently asked questions
Lee's Grilled Cheese closed due to a lease dispute.
Yes, Lee's Grilled Cheese started as a food truck but later opened a physical location in late 2012/early 2013.
The physical location of Lee's Grilled Cheese was in the Shops at Park Vista on North Tarrant Parkway in far north Fort Worth.
Yes, the food truck continued to serve in central Fort Worth parks.
The owner, Lee Perez, decided to move on from the grilled cheese business after seven years. He described the decision as "going down a new path".
