The owners of Compadres Bar & Grill said rising costs and the slumping economy will force them to close their Ward Centre restaurant tomorrow, a week after they shuttered their Compadres eatery in the Lahaina Cannery Mall on Maui.

Owner Rick Enos said the downturns in the tourism sector and broader economy have reduced customers' discretionary income for dining out, crimping sales at Compadres.

"We just didn't have enough customers to compete with the tremendous costs we don't control," Enos said. "Diners don't see the electric bill or the freight on avocados when they order their enchiladas. They only see the plate — and we could only charge so much."

The family-owned and operated Compadres has been a local favorite since opening on Jan. 16, 1984. The closing will result in the layoffs of 35 workers.

"All of the Compadres are closing," said Lisa Josephsohn, Hawai'i publicist for Enos for two decades. "It's a sad day."

In addition to the Maui location, the Compadres restaurants in Palo Alto and Oakland closed earlier this week. Enos said he also has closed the company's taquerias in two San Francisco professional sports stadiums.

Compadres, offering "western cooking with a Mexican accent," has been a popular party destination for tacos, enchiladas, burritos, fried ice cream and margaritas — and Taco Tuesdays.

The newly opened Compadres Rio Grille in Napa, Calif., owned by a separate company run by Enos' son Jeff, will continue to operate and offer catering in the Bay Area.

"We have been a family operation from our founding and it wasn't unusual for the kids to help out from the time they were little," said Enos in a statement.

"We operated as a part of the community and are proud of the part we played to inspire others in the restaurant industry to get involved with major projects and to have food booths at charity events. Our employees typify the word 'compadre' and have always been ready to pitch in, smiles on their faces, to serve our margaritas and quesadillas from one side of the island to the other. We have opened our doors to those in need to do fundraisers, and always are first in line to provide gift certificates to auctions."

In its first decade at the Ward Centre, Compadres sponsored an annual chili cooking contest that fueled customer patronage.

Compadres has won local dining awards — The Advertiser's 'Ilima, Honolulu magazine's Hale Aina, and the Star-Bulletin & MidWeek Best of the Best.