Metro Grill II drama continues

The saga over the new Metro Grill II in Andover continues. Chef Michael Gonzalez and his ex, Sarita Gonzalez , were in court Wednesday to determine who has rights to the restaurant.

The two basically agree on what happened. They say a judge is allowing Michael Gonzalez back into the restaurant to cook for a two-month period, but Sarita Gonzalez can supervise the books.

The Gonzalezes can use those two months to determine the value of the Andover restaurant and the Metro Grill in Towne East Square in order to figure alimony and child support.

Accounts differ on what happened when Michael Gonzalez returned to Metro Grill II on Wednesday. The end result, which is not in dispute, is police were called (possibly by both sides and customers) and Michael Gonzalez isn't allowed back in the restaurant until he has court documents showing he can be there.

Sarita Gonzalez says Michael Gonzalez returned in a wildly disruptive manner "instead of walking into the restaurant with class... and decency."

"I'm still stunned. I'm still like, I can't believe it because customers don't need to deal with any of this drama."

Michael Gonzalez says, "We walked in there very nicely."

He says things got a little uglier after that, and the restaurant is now temporarily closed.

Regardless, he says, he doesn't want to run away from child or spousal support payments. Gonzalez says he simply wants back in the restaurant to make some money.

"I'm calling my lawyer every half an hour. 'How much longer?'

"All I want, and God knows what I want, is to open this place."

A dream fulfilled

After working for others for years, Maria Colchado was about to open her own restaurant in Durango, Mexico, 12 years ago when her husband was hurt in a roofing accident while working in Wichita.

Colchado abandoned her restaurant plans and moved her family here.

Now, she and her daughters, Cinthia and Maria , are opening Los Compadres Mexican Grill at 31st South and Hillside.

"It was always my mom's dream," Cinthia Colchado says. "This is a dream for all my family.

"This is going to be our first chance."

The family hopes to open the 80-seat restaurant by the end of March.

Cinthia Colchado says the restaurant will serve authentic Mexican cuisine and not the sometimes more prevalent Tex-Mex fare.

"Maybe we can come up with something... people really like," she says. "How you really make it at home."

Cinthia Colchado says the family has been working on the restaurant idea since coming here.

"Finally, we could get all the money together," she says.

Cinthia Colchado has been working at other restaurants in the area, including Carrabba's and Larkspur , and is looking forward to opening one with her family.

"The only thing I can tell you for sure is we're going to try to do our best."

You don't say

"Thank heavens for these recession-resistant concepts that have pulled us through the past couple of years."

—Leisa Lowry of J.P. Weigand & Sons , who did the deal for the new Dollar Tree coming to Westgate Market at 6840 W. Kellogg on March 31

This story was originally published March 18, 2011 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Metro Grill II drama continues."