After five years of slinging some of the tastiest Mexican food in Central Phoenix, Mucho Macho Taco on April 27 announced its closure on its Facebook page.

Located at 5341 N. 7th Ave., the restaurant was the passion project of chef/owner Dan Maldonado, a 10-year veteran of the industry and a 2003 graduate of the Scottsdale Culinary Institute.

But Maldonado has been dealing with end-stage kidney failure, and has been going to dialysis three times a week for the last year and a half. A former fighter jet mechanic with the U.S. Military, Maldonado is now focusing on getting on the Veterans Administration’s transplant list.

According to the Facebook post, “He is unable to run the restaurant and go to the countless appointments required for the transplant. Dan has made the difficult decision to temporarily close Mucho Macho until he gets a new kidney and is able to return to work.”

While he waits for his transplant he will still need to support himself, his 17-year- old son, Gabe, and pay medical bills and all the extra costs associated with his condition. So a GoFundMe page has been set up as a way for friends, customers, fellow veterans and more to donate funds to help the family out.

 

 

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