MANSFIELD – People would ask often ask Alejandro Anchondo, “Why don’t you open a restaurant?” He didn’t have an answer.
So, Anchondo and Jesus Davalos – owners of the popular food truck, Panchos Tacos – opened a restaurant.
The duo began selling their locally-famous Mexican cuisine from their new 1344 Lexington Ave. restaurant at 5 p.m. Monday, July 31.
They alerted their customers via a Facebook post. Within an hour, a line of people had already formed.
“It was busy. (The employees) are working really well,” Anchondo said Tuesday morning. “We feel awesome, happy… I really like when they (customers) come over and say, ‘We’re going to come back.’”
Anchondo, of Chichuahua, Mexico and Davalos, of Jalisco, Mexico were first determined to find a downtown Mansfield location for their restaurant. However, after looking at a few spots, Anchondo felt discouraged. With the advice of an architect, they focused on finding a former restaurant. It was too expensive to start from scratch.
“We decided it’s going to be a lot of money to invest in downtown,” Anchondo said in June. “So, I was sad because we were really excited.”
A friend then suggested the building that once housed What’s 4 Dessert. The former restaurant with 115 reviews raving about its cupcakes and apple pie permanently closed Friday, June 2.
In under two months, the ambitious new owners turned the space into what Anchondo calls a “Chipolte-style” restaurant.
Customers place an order – either dine-in or take-out – and then pick their food up at the front counter when it’s ready.
The menu was expanded for the restaurant. Everything available on the food truck can also be found at the restaurant, but new items like gringas, panchas and shrimp ceviche are exclusive to the restaurant.
The menu says the gringas include melted cheese, onions, cilantro, pineapple, and al pastor on a grilled flour tortilla. The panchas are made with chihuahua cheese, lettuce, pico de gallo, sour cream and a choice of meats on a grilled corn tortilla.
The owners of Panchos Tacos met about 10 years ago at a local bar. The two grew to become good friends when they discovered both worked at Mexican restaurants. Anchondo worked for Rancho Fiesta and Davalos for El Campestre.
But on June 17, 2016, they began serving their own Mexican food from a taco cart. In November, they expanded into a food truck.
With the addition of the restaurant, the food truck is temporarily closed. Anchondo anticipates it will be back in three to four weeks after at least seven new employees are trained at the restaurant.
He dreams of opening additional Panchos Tacos throughout Richland, Ashland and Crawford counties.
One of Panchos Tacos biggest supporters is Jose Fransico, who Anchondo calls “Pancho.” The friends worked with each at another local Mexican restaurant.
“He was a really good server. People asked for his section,” Anchondo said. “So, one day I told him ‘When I have a restaurant, I want to (call it) Panchos.’”
Pancho was working in the kitchen Tuesday morning before the new restaurant opened for its first full day.
The Panchos Tacos restaurant will be open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 8 p.m. Sunday.
Panchos Tacos frequently posts updates on Facebook and can also be reached at (419) 775-5002.
“We try to serve quality good food, then people will come back,” said Davalos. “Thank you for your support to the customers.”
