A former Giordano's building at 1505 S Randall Road in Algonquin is being revamped this year to make way for Tia Carmen, a Mexican restaurant from the family behind Hacienda Real. Owner Carlos Arechiga is hoping to open the doors in January 2027, though that timeline is still just a hope rather than a lock.
The news was first reported by WhatNow, which detailed the planned Algonquin location sitting on the northeast side of the County Line Road intersection, just west of downtown. The building already shares space with a Dave's Hot Chicken, and Montarra, a New American restaurant, sits along the same stretch, giving the corridor a growing lineup of dining options.
Arechiga is part of the Arechiga Restaurant Group, the company behind Hacienda Real, which the same report describes as carrying a contemporary and modern vibe. The group currently runs five locations spread across Yorkville, Geneva, Vernon Hills, Paris, and Janesville, Wisconsin, with the Vernon Hills Hacienda Real having opened in 2025.
A Family Vision Rooted in Favorite Haunts
Arechiga has described the motivation behind Tia Carmen in simple terms, saying he wanted to build a classic Mexican restaurant modeled on the kind of places he and his family actually enjoy visiting. “Let's do the kind of places we want to go to,” he said, according to the same report.
That philosophy has already taken shape at the Geneva Tia Carmen, where the menu leans into recognizable, crowd-pleasing dishes. Diners there can order carne asada with grilled onion and jalapeno, salmon chipotle served with a cucumber salad, and enchiladas verdes, alongside tacos, plates, appetizers, and sides like Mexican street corn, according to WhatNow's reporting. The bar menu there also includes margaritas and cocktails.
While those dishes define the Geneva spot, the report does not confirm that the Algonquin menu will mirror it exactly once the restaurant opens.
Part of a Broader Expansion Push
The Algonquin project is not an isolated move for the Arechiga family. The group has also been expanding Hacienda Real into Bolingbrook, where a location is planned for 250 S Weber Road inside a former Red Robin building, with Arechiga previously telling WhatNow in a separate report that he expected that opening sometime in late spring.
Beyond Hacienda Real and Tia Carmen, the company's own site lists other concepts including Casa Santa and Salsa Verde under its umbrella. Arechiga Restaurant Group describes itself as having more than 20 years of experience in Mexican dining across Illinois and Indiana, with more than eight restaurant brands and over 10 unique concepts ranging from high-end dining to casual, authentic meals.
No exact opening date, pricing, or finalized menu for the Algonquin location has been confirmed beyond Arechiga's stated hope for a January 2027 debut. For now, Algonquin diners will have to watch the old Giordano's building transform and wait for Tia Carmen's authentic Mexican dining experience to officially arrive.
