Barrio Tacos expanding in its 10th year

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Barrio Tacos is expanding to Columbus and Pittsburgh.

On Monday, Aug. 1, the company is scheduled to open in Columbus’ University Square area.

Also, Barrio is set to go into Ross Park Mall in Ross Township in Pennsylvania this fall, its first eatery in the Pittsburgh area. It will be about seven miles due north of downtown.

It will be located in a former California Pizza Kitchen between L.L. Bean and The Cheesecake Factory. The new Barrio will include the trademark “Day of the Dead” artwork, interior steelwork and patio.

It will mark the 18th location for Barrio Tacos in six states, with the company hoping to open to more restaurants in the future, partner Jason Beudert said.

The moves come as the company marks a decade in business.

“We can’t believe it’s been 10 years already,” said Sean Fairbairn, partner in Barrio Tacos. “We’re so grateful to our loyal Barrio guests.”

The expansion projects are the latest of several for Barrio. Last year it expanded in the Columbus area, including in Ohio Stadium for football games, and in Strongsville. Other Barrios are slated to open this year in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Salem, Massachusetts, Beudert said.

Also, to mark its decade in business, Barrio will hold a celebrity taco-eating contest at the original Barrio in Cleveland’s Tremont neighborhood on Cinco de Mayo – Thursday, May 5. As part of the festivities, the company will make a donation in the winner’s name to A Special Wish Foundation Cleveland chapter.

Related coverage

Barrio’s Strongsville restaurant nears opening – first look (photos)

Barrio Tacos heading into Ohio Stadium

I am on cleveland.com’s life and culture team and cover food, beer, wine and sports-related topics. If you want to see my stories, here’s a directory on cleveland.com. Bill Wills of WTAM-1100 and I talk food and drink usually at 8:20 a.m. Thursday morning. Twitter: @mbona30.

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