National Margarita Day: 5 recent changes at local Mexican restaurants

It’s National Margarita Day, and many may head out to a favorite restaurant bar to celebrate.

Some changes are in the works for area Mexican restaurants that sling the ever-popular, tequila-powered drink. Here are a few:

Purchase by Elsa's: A shopping center in Centerville has been purchased by the owner of the Dayton-area Elsa's Mexican Restaurants and Sports Bar. Oberer Realty Services announced this month they brokered the sale of the 3.7-acre Far Hills Shopping Center at 6300 Far Hills Ave., just north of I-675. Elsa's South Restaurant & Cantina, which had been leasing a building in the shopping center from the previous owner and seller, will remain open at that location. The remainder of the shopping center will be demolished.

>> RELATED: Elsa’s owner to demolish Centerville shopping center 

New El Toro location: The Dayton-based chain of Mexican restaurants, El Toro Bar & Grill, opened a Springboro location in December, at 710 Gardner Road off Springboro Pike. The company's 12th location in the region was set to employ 30 to 35.

>> RELATED: Grand opening for new El Toro Bar & Grill 

Don Patron opens: This past summer, Don Patron Mexican Grill and Bar opened across from Wright State University in Beavercreek in the University Shoppes. The restaurant serving Mexican-style food from old family recipes is part of a chain that includes six in Northern Ohio and two in the Pittsburgh, Pa.

>> RELATED: New Mexican restaurant to open across from Wright State 

New El Rancho Grande locations on the way: The Cincinnati-based Mexican restaurant chain El Rancho Grande is preparing to open two new Dayton-area restaurants. The company purchased the former Applebee's restaurant at 1450 W. Dorothy Lane near South Dixie Drive with plans to open soon. The chain also leased the former LaRosa's at 7375 Old Troy Pike in Huber Heights and will possibly be open there by mid-March.

>> RELATED: El Rancho Grande to open 2 new locations in Dayton area 

La Pinata plans proposed: Last fall, La Pinata, the Mexican restaurant in a retail shopping center at 1069 S. Main St. (Ohio 48) in Centerville, submitted plans to Centerville officials fore a new restaurant near its existing restaurant. The site-plan application for the new restaurant called for a 4,100-square-foot restaurant on a one-acre tract of vacant land at 9555 Dayton-Lebanon Pike (Ohio 48), south of Sheehan Road. It would offer seating for 90 inside, and another 36 on a patio.

MORE ON RESTAURANTS AND MARGARITAS

>> RELATED: New Mexican restaurant proposed for Centerville 

>> RELATED: 5 places to find great margaritas in the Dayton area

>> RELATED: 9 fresh margarita recipes for National Margarita Day 

>> RELATED: Restaurant news: 8 coming to Dayton area, 4 now open, 2 closed 

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