HANOVER — In its final hours of operation in early January, dozens of customers lined up at Lalo’s Taqueria for a meal before the Lebanon eatery shuttered for good.

Now fans of the former taqueria’s menu can find it beside the American-style offerings at Dunk’s Sports Grill in Hanover, where Lalo’s owner Eddie Moran has been named kitchen manager.

“I’m really happy to have the opportunity. Tony is a really cool guy,” Moran said of the restaurant’s owner, Tony Barnett.

The admiration is mutual.

Moran initially applied for a job at Jesse’s Steakhouse, but Barnett, who also oversees Jesse’s through Blue Sky Restaurant Group, recognized Moran’s name from an Upper Valley Facebook group and intercepted his application.

Barnett was looking for a way to entice more diners, and he knew how much people had loved Lalo’s.

“Dunk’s has great food and everything’s fresh, but we don’t have huge fans of our food,” he said. “It’s just food you could get at any of our restaurants.”

Integrating Lalo’s menu, which includes street tacos, tostadas and quesadillas, with Dunk’s offerings has been in the works since January.

Moran started with a few specials like stuffed poblanos or pozole soup, but as of a few weeks ago, Lalo’s menu has gained a permanent spot at Dunk’s.

Some items, like tostadas, cost a little more, but street tacos still go for $5.

Lalo’s Jan. 8 closure was related to financial troubles at Gusanoz Mexican restaurant, which Moran’s parents Nick Yager and Maria Limon have operated on the Miracle Mile since 2005.

Gusanoz’s Enfield location closed in December, and the property has been on the market since the summer, Yager confirmed in a Tuesday interview.

On Jan. 7, the restaurant’s LLC, MYA POS Services filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Concord, according to a voluntary petition submitted to the court.

Gusanoz had been financing Lalo’s for several years, an arrangement that had become untenable in light of the restaurant’s financial troubles, and rising food and labor costs.

A confirmation hearing in the bankruptcy case is scheduled for March 26.

“We’re on the court’s timeline,” said Yager, who has plans to expand the Gusanoz Express, a quick-serve appendage of the Miracle Mile location.

“The business is doing well. We anticipate that we’ll come out stronger,” he said.

Recovery is also underway for the South Royalton-based nonprofit, Moon and Stars, which lost a chunk of business when Lalo’s closed.

At Dunk’s, Moran has continued to source masa from Moon and Stars, though he doesn’t require as much since changing restaurants.

Moon and Stars recently started selling arepas on Wednesday mornings at First Branch Coffee in South Royalton. “We’re just adapting,” said Nando Jaramillo, who runs the nonprofit.

Lalo’s closure has created an opportunity for Black Magic Mexican, a longstanding vegan food trailer on the Lebanon Green, which is slated to open its first brick and mortar restaurant in Lalo’s former location on the Lebanon pedestrian mall.

In addition to Black Magic’s current menu, the restaurant will offer beer and wine, as well as plant-based soft serve, horchata and aqua fresca, said co-owner Heath Gosselin.

Gosselin expects the restaurant to open in late April or early May, and he plans to keep growing from there.

“We’re hoping to expand to five locations throughout New England,” Gosselin said.

Black Magic Mexican’s food trailer will be moving to Hanover this spring.

Marion Umpleby can be reached at mumpleby@vnews.com or 603-727-3306.