Zocalo is opening a second location on South Broadway

Zocalo has been serving up Mexican food and happy-hour margaritas for two years right off Broadway on Eleventh Avenue, and doing well enough that the owners are now adding a second location three miles further south on Broadway. "Thanks to all the support with the customers and everything, the business...

By Nathalia Vélez

August 28, 2012

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Zocalo has been serving up Mexican food and happy-hour margaritas for two years right off Broadway on Eleventh Avenue, and doing well enough that the owners are now adding a second location three miles further south on Broadway. "Thanks to all the support with the customers and everything, the business is going great. And we have the opportunity to get another going, so we decided to go for it," says Zocalo manager Rafael Vargas.

The location has seen many restaurants come and go -- it got its start as a Mr. Steak, and more recently has been El Ranchito, Broadway Grill, Hades and El Olvido, which closed last month. And there's also the matter of the South Broadway construction project, which has torn up the road in front of the restaurant.

But Zocalo's owners are looking at the long term. "I think it's a great location," Vargas says. "I think it has great potential with the people of the Washington Park area and [University of Denver], and all the traffic on Broadway and Evans."

Vargas, who has been in the restaurant business for 25 years, says the key to a successful business is the combination of good food, good service and a good location. Loyal costumers don't hurt, either. "We already have the name, people already know who we are and what we do. I think that's going to help us," he concludes.

Look for the new Zocalo to open on September 10.

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