You are reading

Calexico Restaurant to Open on 30th Avenue in Astoria

32-07 30th Ave. (NYC ZoLa)

Sept. 3, 2019 By Shane O’Brien

A California-style Mexican restaurant is coming to 30th Avenue at the beginning of next year.

Calexico will open at 32-07 30th Ave. in early 2020, the restaurant’s owners have confirmed. The eatery will open on the former site of Salt and Bone Smokehouse, which closed in October last year.

The restaurant chain currently operates nine locations, seven of which are in New York City, with one in Detroit and another in Bahrain.

The 30th Avenue establishment will be its first in Queens. Weheartastoria was first to report Calexico is coming to the neighborhood.

The chain serves a selection of burritos, enchiladas, quesadillas, fajitas and tacos, as well as a wide variety of sides such as nachos and salads.

The Astoria location will employ between 50 and 60 staff, the owners said. They plan to serve brunch, lunch and dinner and operate a happy hour.

(Calexico)

Dave Vendley, who set up the restaurant chain with his two brothers, Brian and Jesse Vendley, said that they have always wanted to open a location in Astoria.

“It was the first area we lived in when we first moved to New York City,” Vendley said. “We absolutely love the area and have always wanted to open a restaurant in the neighborhood.”

Calexico was founded by the three brothers when they moved to New York City from Calexico, California, from which the restaurant gets its name.

The town is on the border of California and Mexico and much of its cuisine is a hybrid of food dishes from Southern California and Mexico.

When the three brothers moved to New York, they set up a food cart in SoHo in homage to that cuisine. They have since expanded into several brick and mortar locations.

email the author: [email protected]

24 Comments

Click for Comments 
Athena

Nothing will ever survive in that location since Athens Cafe. Maybe split the building up into two businesses, or turn it into some kind of pet kennel. The streets are littered with stains of dog poop so there must be a rise in dog owners.

1
1
Reply
Maria

I prefer to support authentic owned restaurants (real Mexican restaurants) not some gringos version of Mexican cuisine.

75
29
Reply
Cat Woman

Does Astoria really need another restaurant of any ethnicity? No wonder why there are so many rats.

3
15
Reply
If diversity hurts your feelings you're in the wrong city

Move to a Republican paradise like Alabama, you can dine in the safety of a Golden Corral.

1
1
Reply
Gringo Italiano

The word cuisine is reserved for French and Italian food. I have eaten better Mexican food, and it is still gloried fast food.

1
12
Reply
Just a Guy

I heard Starbucks was supposed to take over this location. It’s pretty much the only avenue along the N/W line without a Starbucks

6
7
Reply
Regina

You can easily walk to the Astoria blvd starbucks or theres two locations up and down Broadway and 35th av and ditmars …. plenty of cafes besides that chain

4
13
Reply
Anonymous

>>Black is beautiful!!
RIGHT ON!! Power to the people

My favorite color to wear, for sure – it’s a lovely color, but I hold the opinion that in this particular case S&B went about it wrong.

1
1
Reply
Jack

What’s with you people this place is painted black before…it doesn’t mean it will be that color once it becomes that restaurant…

1
1
Reply
Anonymous

I been told this location will be torn down for further developnment . Not a restaurant at all

4
6
Reply
Dan Beli

Finally!Athens cafe was so good place!!hopefully this place will be good and last longer then previous two who btw ruined that building inside and outside with that black paint looks like it’s been in fire ?!please make previous look

25
5
Reply

Leave a Comment
Reply to this Comment

All comments are subject to moderation before being posted.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Recent News

Manhattan bouncer charged in New Year’s Day fatal stabbing in Elmhurst: NYPD

A Manhattan man was arrested on Saturday and charged in the fatal stabbing of an East Elmhurst man during the early morning hours of New Year’s Day in what notably became the city’s first homicide of 2024.

Torrence Holmes, 35, of St. Nicholas Place in Hamilton Heights, was taken into custody at his home and transported back to Queens, where he was booked at the 110th Precinct in Elmhurst on manslaughter and other charges on Saturday afternoon.

After surge of traffic violence, Queens leaders demand safer streets especially for children

Following a tragic week on Queens streets where three pedestrians — 43-year-old Natalia Garcia-Valencia, 58-year-old Elisa Bellere and 8-year-old Bayrron Palomino Arroyo — were fatally struck by unsafe drivers, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards announced that he has allocated $1.5 million in capital funding for street safety improvements on three of the borough’s most dangerous roadways.

Richards made the announcement at 82nd Street and Astoria Boulevard in East Elmhurst on Monday morning, about a mile from where the 8-year-old boy was struck and killed by an impatient pickup truck driver from Flushing on Mar. 13 as he walked in the crosswalk at 31st Avenue and 101st Street with him mother and brother, who was injured.