Collegiate Times

Fans of Mexican restaurant El Rodeo will soon have a new location to get their margarita and enchilada fix.

The fixture of downtown Blacksburg is opening a new location in the First & Main Shopping Center on South Main Street by the end of September, in addition to its current location on North Main Street across from 622 North.

“El Rods,” as the restaurant is commonly known, is a local stalwart known for its low-priced menu and variety of alcoholic beverages. The student-favorite margaritas even received a first place Best of Blacksburg 2009 award from Collegiate Times readers.

The goal of the new location isn’t to siphon off customers from the original establishment, but to attract an entirely different audience, according to manager Julio Arellano.

“I think it’s a good location for another Mexican restaurant,” Arellano said. “We just felt like we could get a different clientele over there.“

El Rodeo management has been planning the new restaurant for more than a year and a half. The location, Arellano said, was partly inspired by the lack of Mexican dining options in the area.

“When (El) Guadalupe’s was there, they used to do pretty good business. Then they closed,” he said. “I think there’s a void for a Mexican restaurant in that area.”

The First & Main Shopping Center, owned by Fairmount Properties, is an upscale commercial area housing several restaurants including Sake House of Japan, Bull & Bones Brewhaus & Grill and Salad Creations.

Arellano said the shopping center fits with the restaurant’s goal of attracting a more residential audience from Christiansburg and Blacksburg.

“I was thinking the shopping center should bring a lot of customers in,” Arellano said.

For students, the new location offers an alternative to the original restaurant on crowded nights. Since the alcoholic beverages and proximity to downtown are central to El Rodeo’s appeal, some doubt students will frequent the new location on a regular basis.

“I think I’ll stick to the one closest to my apartment,” said Sarah Shriver, a senior communication and political science major. “It’s really close to the other downtown bars. I think it’s a better location.”

Shriver said students going to El Rodeo to drink will likely stick to the North Main restaurant to avoid the need for designated drivers.

Alex Barrett, a junior hospitality and tourism management major, said the original location has problems, including a small parking lot and crowded dining room, but doubts those factors would be enough to make her travel to the new establishment.

“I feel as if I would go there if I was in the area but not on the regular,” Barrett said.

Arellano isn’t worried about the new location hurting the business of the original restaurant.

“It might affect it a little bit, but I don’t think it will be that much,” he said. “I don’t think we’ll lose that many customers.”

The new building is tentatively scheduled to open at the end of September. Arellano said plans for any grand opening celebration will be announced after the opening date is decided.

A version of this article appeared in the Sep 1 issue of the Collegiate Times.