Third El Taco Luchador opening downtown

[Robin Garr]

Chef Fernando Martinez’s Olé Hospitality Group announced today the company plans to open El Taco Luchador sometime in late Summer or early Fall in the space formerly occupied by Zoë's Kitchen, 500 W. Jefferson St., at the corner of West Jefferson and South Fifth streets.

[Robin Garr]

A fourth shop is planned in Stonybrook.

...fourth shop...

Does that make it a ch_ch_ch_ch_chain??

[Robin Garr]

...fourth shop...

Does that make it a ch_ch_ch_ch_chain??

I don't think there's any doubt about it that chaining Luchador is their plan right now. I think they've hit the ceiling with sit-down restaurants - note that they sold the last two, Mercato and Red Barn, while moving ahead briskly with additional Luchador shops.

I think they've hit the ceiling with sit-down restaurants - note that they sold the last two, Mercato and Red Barn, while moving ahead briskly with additional Luchador shops.

I knew that he had sold Mercato but I thought he was still a partial owner of Red Barn/Joe's with the previous owner? Is also been a rumor about him opening a new Steak/Bourbon restaurant but that seems to be taking an awful long time.

[Robin Garr]

I knew that he had sold Mercato but I thought he was still a partial owner of Red Barn/Joe's with the previous owner? Is also been a rumor about him opening a new Steak/Bourbon restaurant but that seems to be taking an awful long time.

I'm pretty sure he sold Joe's back to the original owner. The statements at the time had him continuing to assist with the menu, but I'm not sure what that really means, since it's Joe's barbecue again. Maybe the outcome of the steak and bourbon restaurant will tell us something, if it happens or if it doesn't.