While some businesses thrive in Lubbock, holding their own and surviving the test of time, other businesses are not so fortunate.

While these businesses' closures could be attributed to many factors, including poor service, a lack of marketing, or an undesirable product, there is another factor that often goes unnoticed. While it may not seem like a legitimate reason to some, others believe that ‘cursed buildings’ play a large part in the failure of a business.

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What is a cursed building?

Cursed buildings are those locations that have a variety of businesses rotating through it, none of them managing to stay open for long. Even if they are located in a busy area or could easily get enough traffic to them, somehow they just don’t. If the building doesn’t end up abandoned, it’ll continue to rotate through a variety of businesses for years on end.

Google Street View
Google Street View
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6309 82nd St

One cursed building that I am particularly surprised by is 6309 82nd St.

Originally built in 2008, this building is located off of 82nd and Milwaukee, two very busy and populated streets. It is a standard building for fast food, sitting at 2,682 square feet with a two-lane drive-through and plenty of parking. Its estimated value currently sits at $835,107.

Burger King

Google Maps 2015
Google Maps 2015
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As far as I could find, this building was a Burger King for the largest portion of its existence. From when I first moved to Lubbock in 2017, until its closure in 2020, I rarely saw anyone at that Burger King. Even if the Panda Express next door was packed to the brim during a lunch or dinner rush, the Burger King sat empty with only a few customers trickling in and out on occasion. It also only had a 1.5 star rating on Yelp.

Taco Bueno

Google Maps 2022
Google Maps 2022
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After the Burger Kings’ closure in 2020, Taco Bueno made its return to Lubbock after closing all of their Hub City locations in 2018, picking 6309 82nd Street as one of their new buildings. While it seems like a great spot, this cursed building knocked out this new Taco Bueno closed around a year later. This restaurant also only had a 1.5 star rating on Yelp, just like the Burger King.

What now?

Google Maps (July 2023)
Google Maps (July 2023)
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Since Taco Bueno closed, the building still has all of its signage but remains empty. I have not heard anything about another business taking over the building, but I hope whoever does manages to break the curse and has more success than these businesses.

Lubbock Buildings That Seem to be Cursed: 3524 Avenue Q

Have you ever noticed some buildings that just don't seem to have a business that likes to stick around?

As a constantly growing and ever-changing city, Lubbock is always seeing new businesses call the Hub City home. While many find a building to call home and see great success with that choice, others are not so fortunate.

Whether you call it capitalism or misfortune, it's a building that just seems to be cursed. One good example I can think of is this one at 3524 Avenue Q.

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