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Tijuana Iguana Already In Bankruptcy Where Bennigan's Stood

Tribune file photo by JASON BEHNKEN (2008)

Bartender James Tolley practices flipping and balancing bottles while at Tijuana Iguana in October.

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By MICHAEL SASSO | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 24, 2009

It's been a quick road to bankruptcy for one Tampa Mexican grill, Tijuana Iguana.

The limited liability company behind Tijuana Iguana, called 2520 North Tampa LLC, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last week. Chapter 11 allows a company to reorganize its finances while protected from creditors. According to state corporation records, the company incorporated in August.

Tijuana Iguana opened last summer in a shuttered Bennigan's restaurant at 2520 N. Dale Mabry Highway, south of Raymond James Stadium.

As of Tuesday, the restaurant remained open, said majority owner Keith Johnson. The hope is to find some new financing and remain in business, although if things don't work out the ownership may hand the property back to the landlord.

The company has had trouble recently making its rent payments, Johnson said. He said he bought out the restaurant's original owners, the Lalwani family of the Tampa development firm Fuel Group International near the end of 2008.

Tijuana Iguana bills itself as an "Ameri-Mex" sports grill and bar. It offers a mix of American fare, such as chicken wings and Philly cheese steak, and Tex-Mex foods, such as fajitas and quesadillas.

Reporter Michael Sasso can be reached at (813) 259-7865.

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