Taqueria La Grande has opened its fourth Connecticut location at 1783 Silas Deane Highway in Rocky Hill, taking over the space once occupied by Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard. The opening follows about eight and a half months of anticipation for a restaurant that first announced plans for the site back in February.
According to The Connecticut Scoop, the new location is now open. The chain serves a menu of Mexican dishes.
The Rocky Hill restaurant is the chain's fourth in Connecticut, joining two existing locations in New Britain and one in West Hartford, per the same report.
A Long-Awaited Build-Out
The path to opening day wasn't quick. Back in February, ctpost.com reported that “Taqueria La Grande is setting its sights on Rocky Hill for its newest Connecticut location,” with plans to move into the former Rita's building. At the time, Kris Ponce of the Taqueria La Grande team said, “We're very excited about bringing our family-owned restaurant to the area.”
That coverage also traced the property's paper trail: Rocky Hill land records showed 1783 Silas Deane Highway was purchased for $450,000 by ATH INVESTMENTS LLC, a company business records tied to owner Antonia Trejo, per the outlet's reporting. A building permit listed Trejo as the applicant and described plans for new kitchen equipment, a kitchen hood, and a new front entrance.
Ponce had initially hoped the restaurant could open in time for Cinco de Mayo, though the goal was contingent on construction timing. “Ponce said the goal is to open the restaurant for Cinco de Mayo, though that is dependent on the progress of our renovations,” the outlet reported in February. The opening target depended on renovation progress.
What's On The Menu
Taqueria La Grande's existing locations have served dishes including sopes, flautas, Bistec a la Mexicana, tacos, quesadillas, and burritos, according to the earlier ctpost.com report. That lineup reflects dishes served at the chain's existing locations.
For Rocky Hill, the opening puts a new tenant at the former Rita's location on Silas Deane Highway.
