Exclusive: Columbus-based restaurant chain lays off a surplus of employees for restructuring

A Columbus-based restaurant chain has laid off an unspecified number of employees at its corporate office as part of a restructuring effort.

Condado Tacos confirmed the layoffs to 614NOW. Sources tell us the number of layoffs ranges from approximately 15 to 20 employees. A Condado spokesperson could not confirm the exact number of positions eliminated.

“We recently made the difficult decision to right-size our Support Center team to operate more efficiently, better positioning the business for long-term success,” said CEO Derrick Pratt in a statement provided to 614NOW. “Condado continues to be a healthy, growing brand with no restaurant closures since our founding.”

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CEO Pratt said his focus remains delivering great food and experiences for guests while promoting sustainable growth in 2026 and beyond.

Founded in Columbus in 2014, Condado has grown rapidly over the last decade, expanding from its first location in the Short North to a multi-state chain known for customizable tacos.

Today, the company operates dozens of locations across the Midwest and South. In fact, they’re opening a new location in northeast Ohio this week with plans for another location later this year. Condado was featured in last year’s 614 ColumBEST awards for having the Best Tacos.

Nationwide, many restaurant brands are reassessing corporate operations, citing higher labor costs, inflation-driven consumer pullback and rising operating expenses. In recent months, several fast-casual and full-service chains have announced corporate layoffs, office consolidations or hiring freezes while keeping restaurant staffing intact.

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