On Tuesday, owners of the new "Taco Fiesta" restaurant raised their sign into place, crossing off yet one more task before opening day, which is slated for next week. Only minor parking lot sealing and striping, with its requisite city inspection, stand between Sierra Madre citizens and their first taste of the new restaurant’s fare.
The new restaurant's opening will reign at the site on the west end of the city's business district.
The Larios family, Moises Larios, his sister and brother-in-law, Guadalupe and John Calkins, plan for a “soft” opening next week, to get their restaurant running smoothly. A grand opening is planned for May.
While workers labored to raise the new sign, drivers even held up traffic at the Lima stop sign, asking when the location would finally open. Larios chuckled, “We have people knocking on our door every day, asking when we’ll open. Everyone’s been very supportive and welcomed us. We love Sierra Madre.”
The Calkins, from Altadena, have been well acquainted with Sierra Madre, as their 7 year old son attended preschool in town.
The artistic steel sign was custom fabricated by Sierra Madre resident Jamison Wians, whom John Calkins knows through a professional connection in set design for the entertainment industry.
It was Calkins who chose the five color palette for the restaurant. "We've had people stop and tell us how great the colors look," said Calkins.
Outdoor seating is planned for the Lima Street frontage of the restaurant, which offers the best shade and is out of the parking traffic.
Creating Mexican food for hungry diners isn’t new to the Larios family. They operated two other taco shops in Los Angeles prior to their Sierra Madre venture.
In addition to tacos, the menu will include breakfast burritos for the early risers, nachos, fish tacos, tamales, sopes, tortas and flan, plus pisole on Thursday through Sunday, and menudos on weekends.
Work crews have been laboring for months to prepare the new renovat the building ever since building owner Robert Gavidia .
Taco Fiesta is located at 345 W. Sierra Madre Boulevard in Sierra Madre. (626) 355-3407
