Mexican restaurant El Rodeo, commonly referred to by patrons as “El Rods,” expects to open its second restaurant in the First & Main Shopping Center by the end of this month.
“If everything goes according to plan, we should be opening our second location sometime at the end of this month,” said manager Julio Arellano.
Arellano said the authentic Mexican restaurant would benefit from expanding because its current North Main Street location is popular among college students.
“We saw a great opportunity in opening a new location on that side of town,” he said. “We think the shopping center will bring a different kind of clientele.”
The opening of the second El Rodeo is likely to have an immediate impact on the First & Main Shopping Center.
Suzie Johnson, an employee at Rack Room Shoes, said she thinks El Rodeo has enough support in the area to draw more people to the shopping center.
“Everyone I know has birthday parties there,” she said.
One concern to neighboring merchants is what kind of effect El Rodeo will have on the other restaurants in the shopping center.
Sussi Walters, an employee of On a Whim Gifts and Accessories, believes El Rodeo will not take business away from the other restaurants currently in the shopping complex such as Sake House of Japan, Bull & Bones Brewhaus & Grill, and Sal’s Italian Restaurant.
“It’s a different kind of restaurant. There is no other Mexican restaurant to compete with (in the First and Main Shopping Center).” Walters said. “All the other restaurants here are well-established.”
In fact, she believes the success of these businesses depend not on the neighboring businesses but on the weather.
“Currently, the number of people at the shopping center is very weather-related,” Walters noted. “On sunny days, people enjoy walking around, and we can keep the doors of the shops open. It’s not the same on rainy days.”
The new restaurant, located in suite 100 of 1540 South Main Street, will display imported Mexican art and will entertain customers with spirited Mariachi music.
