Tacos El Cuñado is preparing to open its seventh location in West Michigan.
A pair of franchisees, Edgar Vazquez and Juan Arias, said they have secured 1,924 square feet of space at 4116 17 Mile Road NE in Cedar Springs and will begin construction on Monday. According to Vazquez, the expansion will take five to eight months.
Vazquez told GRBJ that he is a real estate investor looking to diversify his business. The restaurant is the main target at the moment, as he is part of the ownership group of the recently opened Cantina Los Amigos, 1 Carlton Ave. Say.
“I’m starting to like the restaurant business,” Vazquez said. “I have a friend who lives in Cedar Springs and there are no Mexican restaurants in the area.”
With these factors in mind, he met with Hector Lopez, one of the founders of Tacos El Cuñado, to develop a business plan for the franchise in the area.
This will be the seventh Tacos El Cuñado location in Western Michigan. Other locations are:
- Southwest of Grand Rapids, 455 Burton Street
- Southwest of Grand Rapids, 1342 Cesar E. Chavez Avenue
- 435 Ionian Avenue SW (Grand Rapids City Center Marketplace)
- 1024 Bridge Street Grand Rapids NW
- 2769 44th Street Southwest Wyoming
- 442 Baypark Drive in the Netherlands
Vazquez says he wants to help change Mexican food in West Michigan.
“I’m Hispanic, Mexican myself,” he said. “I want to take over much of Western Michigan and bring more Mexican food to the city. I know it’s here, but I want to throw my spice, my touch, into the fold.”
The Cedar Springs retail complex, where Tacos El Cuñado is located, still has several suites, according to DAR business consultant Chris Prins.
Despite inflation and staffing headwinds holding back the restaurant industry across the country, the restaurant and retail market remains active, Prince said.
“It really shows the resilience of West Michigan business owners,” Prince said.