Yo Quiero Mexicali Rosa’s
Posted on February 27, 2008, by Harvey Kirkpatrick
Filed Under Food & Drink, General News
It is known around Kingston as the black hole, the corner of doom, an address that few businesses dare touch, while those who’ve rolled the dice have paid the ultimate price. I am referring to the corner of Johnson and Ontario were countless independent restaurants and bars have come to die. 172 Ontario is a prime downtown location that’s a block away from City Hall, a stone’s throw away from the waterfront and in the company of Wooden Heads, White Mountain and Frankie Pesto’s, so it does not make sense that so many attempts have failed. City records do not indicate that the earth beneath this address was once home to a cursed cemetery, hence there is no supernatural explanation.
I don’t think you need to be familiar with the finances of the latest failed attempts, specifically Johnny Mac ’s family friendly restaurant, and Juice, a student oriented nightclub, to know that they were anything but successful. While both achieved mediocre buzz when they first opened their doors, neither had staying power in a downtown that already boasts dozens of family eateries, and Friday night meat markets. Even so, I do not believe that the presence of an additional downtown restaurant or watering hole is going to tip the fragile balance, but rather the food and bar industry is a ruthless beast. To achieve success in the restaurant game, one must have extensive experience, lot’s of capital and even more patience. A bit of luck wouldn’t hurt either.
When I saw that Mexicali Rosa’s was going to take their turn at the corner of doom and gloom, I thought that it was a no brainer. This franchise’s fiesta began in Ottawa in 1979, and they’ve since opened up 35 stores, making them Canada’s largest chain of Mexican-themed, casual-dining restaurants. Their restaurants are bursting with cliché sombreros and saddle blankets hanging on the walls, while sizzling fajitas, and ice-cold cervezas make up for the cheesy decor. Sure Kingston already has an authentic tex-mex restaurant located two blocks down the street, but the heads at Mexicali Rosa’s feel that this is the right location for the chain. On that note, the company has been on pace to open about 7 new franchises a year since 2003, thereby flooding Canada with their brand, which includes a cactus at every table. Although they may run the risk of over saturating the market, I’m predicting that corporate experience and deep pockets will translate into success for the new quesadilla on the block.
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Friends & Supporters
Ah, but will the wait staff be as enthusiastic about sizzling fajitas and ice cold Corona’s as they are at Lone Star? I think not. And I bet they don’t have a big hat either.
Isn’t that the most annoying thing in the world? Even if you tell Lone Star you’ve been there before, they still recite the menu to you. One of these days I’m going to list off the specials before they get a chance.
I randomly came across this website while searching for info on the opening of a new Mexicali Rosa’s in Kingston. It’s really informative about the happenings in kingston and I’ve subscribed to the RSS feed.
I’m really looking forward to this place opening. Right now if my wife want’s Mexi’s, we drive to Perth!
I’m more of a fan of the Tex-Mex style like at Lonestar, but she’s into the more authentic mexican that Mexi’s serves.
Any idea on when it’s opening the website says January 08?
Isn’t it kind of ironic that it’s opening kitty-corner to it’s former location in Kingston (Now Frankie Pesto’s)?
By the way, great site!
Come to Tucson La Fuente and then tell me about Mexican food in Kingston. Lone Star and the Rose are a chronic gringo joke!
I looked up Tucson La Fuente and it’s not a restaurant in Kingston, it’s in Arizona…so what do you mean?