Fire Destroys Del Pacífico Restaurant on Cancún Avenue With History of Extortion

Cancún, Quintana Roo — A fire destroyed most of the Del Pacífico Zarandeado & Grill restaurant on Avenida Huayacán early Saturday and damaged an adjoining business, on a Cancún commercial corridor with a documented history of extortion and armed attacks on local establishments.

Information provided to Diario CAMBIO 22 indicates the blaze may be linked to an extortion demand, known in Mexico as cobro de piso. That account has not been publicly confirmed by authorities, and no official finding on the origin of the fire has been released.

The emergency was reported at about 4:30 a.m. at the intersection of Huayacán and Ciricote street in Supermanzana 313. Residents and passing drivers called for help after spotting smoke and flames coming from the restaurant.

Firefighters, civil protection personnel and municipal police responded. The fire damaged the kitchen, the drinks bar and the dining room. After knocking down the flames, firefighters carried out cooling operations to keep the fire from reigniting.

Early reports described the damage as a total loss, while other accounts estimated it at around 85 percent. No definitive official assessment of the losses has been released.

A corridor with a record of criminal pressure

Avenida Huayacán has a specific history of criminal pressure on businesses. The State Prosecutor’s Office documented a case on March 10, 2025, when three men entered a construction site in Supermanzana 313 on the same avenue, identified themselves as members of a criminal group and demanded 10,000 pesos a week.

A judge ordered Roberto Gonzalo “N,” Jorge Alberto “N” and Fredi Alberto “N” to stand trial for their alleged roles in the extortion; Mexican court records abbreviate surnames in that way. The case file is an official record of extortion through intimidation in the same area as the fire.

The restaurant sector has its own documented case. A journalistic investigation published in 2022 recounted the story of an entrepreneur identified as Michel, who opened a chicken wings delivery business with a partner near Huayacán in December 2020. According to his account, the business closed in less than three months after men demanded 30,000 pesos a month in exchange for supposed protection. His testimony describes how threats alone can shut down a business without any visible attack.

Another violent episode occurred on March 13, 2025, when businessman Tomás Suaste was killed in an armed attack inside the Like Terraza Bar on Avenida Huayacán. Initial reports said three other people were injured. In that case, the Prosecutor’s Office said its main line of investigation was drug dealing, so it is recorded here as an armed attack on a business along the corridor, without attributing an extortion motive.

Together, the cases show that commercial activity on Huayacán has already faced threats, money demands and lethal violence. They provide context for the Del Pacífico fire but do not prove that all the incidents are connected or were carried out by the same organization.

Reports on Saturday’s fire have not indicated any injuries. Authorities have not released further official information on the cause of the blaze or a possible criminal motive.