Uno Mas owner expanding his Wichita presence again, adding an east-side restaurant
Uno Mas owner Abel Rodriguez is expanding his restaurant presence in Wichita again — this time to the east side of town.
Rodriguez, who already owns two Wichita Uno Mas restaurants as well as two food trucks, will open a third restaurant in the building at 3242 N. Rock Road left vacant when Pita Pit closed earlier this year.
Rodriguez said construction on the space should start sometime this week, and he hopes to have the restaurant open in the next 45 to 60 days. That would put opening day sometime in October.
Rodriguez, who previous to his solo restaurant career worked for years as a sous chef under Chester’s Chophouse’s former owner Bobby Lane, opened his Uno Mas truck in 2016. He also now has a burger truck.
Rodriguez opened his first Uno Mas brick-and-mortar restaurant at 1920 W. 21st St. in September 2017, followed by a second restaurant that opened in January in the Tyler Pointe strip center at 13th and Tyler.
Recently, he announced plans to move his 21st and Amidon restaurant across the street to 1735 W. 21st St. and take over a strip-mall end-cap that has a drive through, something Rodriguez said is essential during the COVID-19 pandemic. He plans to make that move later this year.
The new east-side restaurant also has a drive through, which made it particularly desirable, Rodriguez said.
He’s long wanted to get a presence on the east side, he said.
“I have been looking for the last couple of years, and this fell in my lap, so it was a win-win,” he said.
I’ll update you when Rodriguez settles on an opening day.
.jpg)