The family behind Botanas El Paiza in Imlay City is bringing its slow-cooked birria and made-from-scratch Mexican fare 20 miles west to Davison Township, where a second restaurant called El Patrón is set to open within two to three weeks at 7498 Davison Road. Owners Rita and Orlando Guerrero are hiring and training new staff ahead of the launch, with a hiring event scheduled for Wednesday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
According to MLive.com, El Patrón is hiring servers, front-counter workers, dishwashers and kitchen help or cooks, with applicants able to email [email protected]. The new spot sits next to Rock Mini Mart in a plaza at the corner of Davison and Irish roads, a commercial strip that also includes local dining staples like Hamlin Pub and Whitey's, according to Giverrang. Regional station Banana 101.5 reported on August 27 that a Coming Soon sign had already gone up outside the space while interior renovations continued.
A Family Recipe Two Decades in the Making
Dominick Guerrero, son of owners Rita and Orlando, told the outlet the family accepted an opportunity to expand into the Davison area, and that the restaurant concept originated with his mother. Rita and Orlando moved to America from Guanajuato, Mexico, in the 1990s, and Botanas El Paiza opened nine years before publication on North Almont Street in Imlay City before relocating to its current home at 234 E. Third Street in 2021.
The Imlay City restaurant built its following on botanas, or traditional Mexican snacks, along with molcajetes and specialty drinks, a menu identity described by VayaPin as the foundation for the brand before it grew into a full sit-down restaurant and bar. Dominick said the restaurants maintain a high cleanliness standard, and the family emphasizes that Botanas El Paiza does not use frozen ingredients, relying instead on natural ingredients throughout its kitchen.
Birria at the Center of the New Menu
At El Patrón, Orlando cuts the birria meat while Rita marinates it, and the meat is cooked slowly for hours before it reaches the plate. The Davison Township location will open with a smaller menu than the Imlay City original, but it will still serve quesabirria, torta birria, birria ramen and pizza birria alongside steak and chicken tacos, enchiladas, tostadas, flautas and elote.
Birria dishes like quesabirria and birria ramen have become one of the fastest-growing Mexican food trends nationwide and across Michigan in recent years, per MegaMex Foods, as slow-cooked meat and its dipping consommé have surged in popularity on social media and restaurant menus alike. At the Imlay City location, Orlando's Sunday specialties, carnitas and menudo, typically sell out in less than an hour after opening.
No Alcohol Yet, but a Bigger Suburban Market Awaits
Unlike the Imlay City restaurant, which holds a liquor license and offers margaritas, tequila, beer and cocktails alongside Jarritos, aguas frescas and fresh-made horchata, El Patrón will not initially serve alcoholic beverages in Davison Township. Under Michigan Liquor Control Commission rules, obtaining a Class C liquor license requires either local municipal quota availability or an escrow transfer, along with formal township board approval, according to the State of Michigan — a multi-step process that explains why the new location will start dry.
The expansion also marks a shift across county lines, from Lapeer County into Genesee County. Imlay City has a Hispanic or Latino population share of roughly 42.8%, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates cited by Census Dots, which helped establish a loyal base for the original restaurant's traditional dishes. Davison Township, by contrast, has more than 20,400 residents and a Hispanic population of about 4.3%, per Census Reporter figures — a larger, more suburban customer pool the Guerrero family is now aiming to reach.
A Retail Corner With a Revolving Door
The 7498 Davison Road space has seen its share of turnover. Most recently, it housed B's Diner, an all-day breakfast and coney-style spot known for all-you-can-eat breakfast buffets, according to Birdeye, which closed earlier this year. Before that, the plaza was home to Maria Mia Restaurante, another Mexican dining concept, per Restaurant Guru — meaning El Patrón isn't the first taste of Mexican food this corner has seen, even if it's betting on a bigger and more specialized menu.
Back in Imlay City, Botanas El Paiza continues its regular hours of 10:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. The flagship location is also gearing up for a milestone: its 10th anniversary celebration is planned for Cinco de Mayo next year, on May 5, 2027, even as the family's attention turns toward getting the Davison Township doors open in the coming weeks.
