Abuelo’s to Open New West Wichita Restaurant May 26

WICHITA, Kan. – Abuelo’s Mexican restaurant opened its second Wichita location on May 26 in the city’s growing west side at 452 South Ridge Road. Abuelo’s other restaurant in Wichita, which opened in 2004, is located in the Waterfront at 1413 N. Waterfront Parkway.

The new Abuelo’s restaurant features approximately 7,700-square-feet of interior space and includes a 1,000-square-foot outdoor, trellised patio. It also features a natural light skylight over an interior courtyard. The restaurant seats approximately 250 guests and employs between 80-100 employees.

“Our theme at Abuelo’s is ‘welcome to our home’ and we are looking forward to welcoming everyone to our newest location to enjoy our incredible Mexican food,” said Chuck Ouellette, Abuelo’s general manager. “Wichita has been an excellent market for us over the past 11 years, and we are excited to open a second location in this great city.”

Abuelo’s pre-opening training services raised $6,500 to benefit Victory in the Valley, Inc., a non-profit organization founded in 1983 by cancer survivor Lois Thomi after her successful treatment of an aggressive form of breast cancer. The organization has now grown to become a state-wide comprehensive cancer support program by adding needed service programs to benefit cancer patients and their families.

Additionally, on opening day, May 26, the first 100 guests who were seated beginning at 11 a.m., received a 2015-2016 calendar with free items monthly. The calendar offers are valued at $215.00.

Abuelo’s, which has consistently been on the leading edge of Mexican cuisine, is famous for its creative, made-from-scratch Mexican cuisine, superior service and affordable prices. Abuelo’s menu selections combine authentic standards with the rich, subtle flavors of coastal and interior Mexican cuisine. Abuelo’s House Specialties, which combine beef tenderloin, fresh shrimp, Barramundi, salmon and other top-quality ingredients with unique, homemade sauces and side dishes, have earned a reputation for “raising the bar” of Mexican food restaurants. The menu also features an impressive selection of fire-grilled fajitas, enchiladas, tacos, chile rellenos, quesadillas and tamales. Desserts include Abuelo’s award-winning traditional Mexican flan and Margarita pie with tequila cream sauce, among others.

“Our theme is ‘beyond Tex-Mex,’” added Robert Lin, president of Food Concepts International, Abuelo’s parent company.  “At Abuelo’s, our goal is to offer our guests an opportunity to experience the diverse and distinct flavors of Mexico in a beautiful setting with superior service at a great value.”

In addition to the new Wichita restaurant, Abuelo’s has two other restaurant opening planned for this year. Construction recently began on a new restaurant in Tyler, Texas, which is slated to open in September. The company also recently signed a lease agreement on a new property in The Colony, Texas at the Village at 121, located on the northeast corner of Highway 121 and South Colony Blvd. The new Abuelo’s in The Colony, which is scheduled to open in late 2015, will be the company’s sixth location in the Dallas/Fort Worth-area. Other Abuelo’s are located in Arlington, Hurst, East Plano, West Plano and Fort Worth.

 About Abuelo’s    Since its first opening in 1989, Abuelo’s has consistently been on the leading edge of Mexican cuisine, combining menu creativity, outstanding food and beverage quality, colorful plate presentations and superior service in a true Mexican courtyard atmosphere. Abuelo’s has received national accolades as the top-ranked Mexican food restaurant and as one of America’s top overall restaurant chains in three consecutive biennial surveys by a leading national consumer rating magazine. Owned and operated by Food Concepts International in Lubbock Texas, the company currently has 39 full-serve restaurants located in 14 states, and a fast casual Abuelo’s Taqueria, located in Lubbock, Texas. For more information, visit www.abuelos.com or Abuelo’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Abuelos.