Downtown restaurant opens in Patton Park

Cinco de Mayo was on Tuesday.

It’s the annual celebration of the Mexican army’s victory over the French Empire in the Battle of Puebla. The appearance of a Mexican food trailer in Patton Park on that day was fitting, if coincidental.

But it is something of a victory for the owners of Fiesta Jalisco as they cope with a global pandemic and highway construction right outside the door of their restaurant on Lakeshore Drive.

Owner Lupe Duran Gonzalez said Kjell Alkire of the Lake City Economic Development Authority (EDA) helped the business obtain the city permits it needed to set up shop at the park. Michelle Larson at the Chamber of Commerce helped a lot, too, she said.

The truck is open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday serving nachos, burritos, tacos, walking tacos, and beverages. Cash and check is accepted.

At night the trailer is towed to a location off-site.

The restaurant itself is open the same days from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. with their full menu for carryout or delivery. People can even order flavored margarita mix to which they can add their own tequila.

Alkire said he’s been trying to reach out to businesses and assist them when he can.

“The majority of the work that I’ve done is connecting with individual businesses and making sure they know what the availability of grants and loans are,” he said.

But if another business wanted to set up a food truck at the park or has another idea for operating during the pandemic or highway project, they can talk to him, he said.

“The EDA is supportive of creative solutions for businesses of all sorts,” he said.

Duran said her family is very grateful for the community support they have received.

“We’re so thankful to live in a nice community like Lake City because we feel all the love from everyone,” she said.