Acapulco Restaurant & Cantina, a Southern California hometown favorite since 1960, is getting back to its roots while investing heavily in its future. Because of that commitment, the historical excellence of the brand, and its connection to the community, Acapulco will host a grand reopening on August 12 at its Downey location, following an extensive remodel. The grand reopening will be in the evening and Acapulco will be open to the public at 7:30 p.m. The dramatic new look features a beautiful new cantina, dining room, two outdoor patios, and an updated grand entrance next to the indoor-outdoor bar.
The 9,250-square foot, 255-seat restaurant, has occupied this location since 1989. The dramatically distinctive re-design was inspired by vacations to Mexico and the great resorts of the Mexican Riviera. The initiative is part of a bold, new vision under the leadership of Bryan Lockwood, who last year became Chief Executive Officer of Acapulco’s parent company, Real Mex Restaurants.
“Our guests are going to be blown away,” Lockwood says. “The Acapulco brand has always been about the feeling of vacation and relaxation, served up with fresh food and drinks. The new redesign provides a perfect setting for that everyday escape. I couldn’t be more pleased with the new look at our Downey location.”
The Downey redesign raises the bar of excellence, and was implemented section-by-section, which allowed the restaurant to stay open throughout the process.
The renovated cantina features a new tile floor, bar top, and all new stools, tables and chairs. The bold painted wall treatment was inspired by intricate Mexican tiles.
The tables, chairs, booths and light fixtures in the dining room are also brand new and the décor is highlighted with our take on the vintage travel posters from the resort region. During construction, a fireplace was added to the dining area, along with the addition of an impressive firewall to the front patio. The 20-foot long, glass-enclosed trough has flames dancing up above the patio wall and is the perfect backdrop for pictures.
In addition to the restaurant receiving a makeover, the menu was also revamped to include fresh dishes like: Chimichurri Poke Tacos, Pozole by the Sea, Crab and Shrimp Enchiladas and Tropical Salmon. A Coconut Margarita was added to the already-impressive cocktail list, along with an Oreo Cookie Ice Cream Torte to the dessert menu.
The remodeled Acapulco will employ 130 compadre team members, who are all from the local community and surrounding areas. Nearly 20 additional people are expected to be hired by mid-September. The Acapulco brand, including the Downey location, employs over 900 people in Southern California. Acapulco Downey is open for lunch and dinner, seven days a week, and offers a resort-style brunch on Sundays.
