La Cantina to open third location in northeast Cedar Rapids

CEDAR RAPIDS - La Cantina is expanding - again.

The family owned Mexican restaurant, with locations in downtown Cedar Rapids and Marion, will open a third spot on Blairs Ferry at 5400 Edgewood Rd. NE, in the former Lava Fusion space, which closed in the spring.

Ariel Barrios, who owns the restaurant along with his brothers Christian and Pedro, said the trio hopes to have the new restaurant up and running by the end of January.

'It was already a restaurant, so it's really ready to go,” he said. 'We basically have to put our touch on it.”

The brothers plan to serve the same menu and eventually will add additional menu items, he said. They launched their first restaurant downtown in 2010 and then opened up the Marion location in 2013.

The Blairs Ferry building, owned by developer Steve Emerson, has more than 6,700 square feet along with another 1,000 square-foot patio. It's significantly more space than their other venues, which will allow the restaurant to offer private party rooms, Barrios said - a big request from customers.

It also gives customers more parking options, something the downtown location does not offer.

'And we can have a nice beer garden for summertime,” he added.

The demographics also were a big draw, Barrios said. The spot is not too far from major employers such as Transamerica and on the other side of retail and office park the Fountains.

Barrios said the brothers are excited for the new opportunity the restaurant will bring.

'We love Cedar Rapids,” he said. 'We like to see it grow and we want to grow as well.”

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