Rancho Viejo opening restaurant in Roanoke City Market

The Mexican restaurant Rancho Viejo is opening an eatery in downtown Roanoke.

The restaurant will be located on the city market in the space where Horizon Bar and Grill closed last year.

Rancho Viejo has restaurants in Roanoke County near Tanglewood Mall, Vinton, Daleville, Salem and Moneta. The company also owns several Rancho Viejo locations elsewhere in Virginia.

Rancho Viejo will join two other Mexican restaurants downtown: Alejandro's and Queso Southwestern Grill.

Owner Edfrain Aguirre said the downtown restaurant will be different from the other two locations but wouldn't elaborate, saying he wanted to wait until closer to the opening to reveal more details.

He said crews are working on the space now, including putting down new tile, painting and remodeling the wine cellar so it can hold private parties and live music on weekends.

Aguirre expects the restaurant to open by the end of July.

• 501 Speakeasy has opened at Fifth Street and Campbell Avenue in Roanoke. The cafe is open for breakfast and lunch.
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