The former Tortilla Jo’s and Taqueria building has been completely demolished at the Downtown Disney District, while other areas are receiving new updates.
Tortilla Jo’s
In our last update on the Tortilla Jo’s building, the second-story walls had been removed and crews had begun tearing down the walls around the first floor. Now, save one cinder block structure near the ground, the former Tortilla Jo’s and Taqueria has been completely demolished to make way for new eateries at the Downtown Disney District in Disneyland Resort.
Tortilla Jo’s closed permanently in March 2024. The Taqueria closed the following month. Demolition didn’t begin, however, until February 2025. Beyond the construction walls, there is not much left of the former building other than the cinder block structure. While these blocks will likely be removed soon, it is possible this support will be used for the construction of the new replacement building.
From the Disneyland Monorail, we got a look at the side facing toward a backstage area. Over on this side, there is a work site located in a parking lot that is blocked off by green scrim on fences. A pile of rubble and some construction equipment is all that remains in the area.
An updated braille map reflects the complete removal of Tortilla Jo’s and the Taqueria. This spot is set to become Arthur & Sons Steak and Bourbon, a classic steakhouse with a center bar, and Pearl’s Roadside BBQ, a quick-service eatery.
New Signage
New side-facing signs have also been added to the exteriors of both D-Lander Shop and Avengers Reserve.
The D-Lander sign is circular and features “The” in gold lettering and “D-Lander” in green lettering, similar to the store’s main sign over the door. The “D” is written in the classic gothic Disneyland logo font, and “Shop” is in green lettering on a gold oval. A smaller “Featuring Pandora” sign hangs from the main circle. Meanwhile, the new Avengers Reserve sign is simply a circular black and white version of the Avengers “A” logo.
Former ESPN Building
During a previous visit, scaffolding had been set up and the old facade had been revealed as construction continued on the former ESPN Zone building. Now, most of that scaffolding has been removed to reveal an updated facade.
The new facade is mostly white with hidden Mickey panels added between the columns. Each column has a different color stripe matching the height of the new panels. Charcoal gray overhangs have also been added above the lower windows.
No longer a gaping hole, new large windows also replace the former ESPN Zone entrance. The windows still have spacers and some small pieces of tape, so work is not yet complete.
The Mickey panels continue around the side of the store, where some black-covered scaffolding still remains. A new lululemon store will be in a section of the former ESPN Zone building, which is being turned into multiple storefronts. The store will feature athletic apparel, footwear, and accessories. Although the ESPN Zone officially closed in 2018, it has been used at various times for temporary opportunities such as a photo op experience and MagicBand+ shop.
Are you excited to see new changes and updates in the Downtown Disney District at Disneyland Resort? Let us know what you are most excited about in the comments and on social media.
For more Disneyland Resort news and info, follow Disneyland News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. For Disney Parks news worldwide, visit WDWNT.