Photo by Kevin A. Roberts
Tilford Restaurant Group made two big announcements today.
The first: Mission Taco Joint is headed to the Streets of St. Charles. A lease for the location—the fourth in the St. Louis area—was signed last Thursday, with a scheduled spring opening.
The second: The group's original Mexican concept, Tortillaria Mexican Kitchen, will close January 15, after 12 years in the Central West End.
Adam Tilford, who created both restaurants with brother Jason Tilford, says they were looking to branch out west, as the other three Mission Taco locations are scattered throughout the city (in the CWE and Soulard) and in the Delmar Loop.
Streets of St. Charles is a multi-use development boasting other restaurants, retail, apartments, and a movie theater. Adam says Mission Taco will be on the southern end cap and on the same street as Bar Louie.
"We hope to capture a little bit of that nightlife and help bring more of that vibe to the area," Adam says.
The St. Charles location will be modeled after the one in Soulard. Tilford says to expect an open floor plan, a garage door, and a spacious patio. The space is 4,500 square feet and can seat 130 in the dining room and an additional 40 on the patio. SPACE Architecture has begun working on the design.
Inside the new Mission Taco, patrons can also expect a large mural. "That is a signature thing that we do," Adam says. "We pick a different artist. That's a part of Mission—it's modeled after the Mission District in San Francisco." (Although they haven't decided on an artist yet, Adam says they have picked out which wall will serve as a canvas for the mural.)
As for closing Tortillaria, which opened in October 2004, Adam says the lease was ending in a few months, and they decided to make a clean break on their terms.
"We just talked to the staff today, so it's been a difficult day," Adam says. Several staff members have been with the restaurant for a decade, and he calls them the "tightest restaurant family" he's ever worked with. "Tortillaria holds a big place in our hearts."
