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Home > Blogs > Taste: Dayton food and restaurants > Archives > 2009 > February > 25 > Entry
Mexican restaurant closes
WEST CARROLLTON — Pepito’s Mexican Restaurant & Cantina’s West Carrollton restaurant has closed only five months after it opened.
There are no signs alerting customers to the closing posted at the restaurant at 1130 Central Ave. in the east end of the former Roberd’s complex, but employees at the Kettering and Dayton Pepito’s confirmed the closing. Ignacio Bucio, the West Carrollton restaurant’s owner, could not be reached this morning, Feb. 25.
When the restaurant opened in September near the Montgomery County auto title and Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles license bureau offices in West Carrollton, Bucio said he had been looking for a spot to open since he sold the Pepito’s at 4904 Airway Road earlier in 2008.
The other Pepito’s restaurants are located at 2412 Catalpa Drive in Dayton and at 3618 Wilmington Pike in Kettering.
An employee of the Kettering Pepito’s said the restaurant has temporarily suspended lunch service during a transition to new management. Lunches are expected to return in three or four weeks.
Kelly Kennedy, an employee of the Catalpa Drive Pepito’s, said the closing of the West Carrollton restaurant will have no impact on the Dayton operation, other than the Catalpa restaurant will host Latin dancing events that had been held in West Carrollton, starting as soon as this weekend. Kennedy also said the Dayton restaurant is offering a 25 percent off food special as part of its 29th anniversary celebration.
Permalink | Comments (35) | Post your comment | Categories: Restaurant closings
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By dineout
March 11, 2009 1:05 PM | Link to this
mexican rest. in dayton are repetition of none really authentic mexican dishes el toro,rancho grande los reyes …all the same . there is a new retaurant that dine in last night that it was great food and prices and the best salsa in all dayton, “salsas” mexican restaurant it has also the best margaritas at airway shoping center
By dineout
March 11, 2009 1:00 PM | Link to this
mexican rest. in dayton are repetition of none really authentic mexican dishes el toro,rancho grande los reyes …all the same . there is a new retaurant that dine in last night that it was great food and prices and the best salsa in all dayton, “salsas” mexican restaurant it has also the best margaritas at airway shoping center
By crisann
February 28, 2009 11:30 AM | Link to this
Best mexican is definitely Taqueria Mixteca on Third St. The seafood cocktail is the best. A fresh gazpacho with shrimp-so good! Daytonians try it. Very authentic.
By Letina
February 26, 2009 1:54 PM | Link to this
The only reason it didn’t close earlier is because nobody knew it was there. If you did find it, you didn’t go back. Yuck. Food OK, but you’d think a Mexican restaurant would KNOW how to blend a margarita. Still sorry for the job losses.
By FreshMeatz
February 26, 2009 12:19 PM | Link to this
Elsa’s is poorly managed now? last time I was there was 12 years ago and we got plastered while drinking pictures of Juans. I will have to recheck it out in summer when I drive threw Kettering to PA.
By not surprised
February 26, 2009 9:29 AM | Link to this
I’m not surprised at all. The location was absolutely horrible. I’m sure a lot of people didn’t even know it was there. You had to really look for it if you were just driving by.
By gmuop4life
February 26, 2009 8:08 AM | Link to this
that locations hasn’t been successful for anything since it was the Odyssey Nite Club for teens back in the late 80’s and early 90’s
By mike
February 26, 2009 7:24 AM | Link to this
does anybody cook any more
By JB
February 26, 2009 5:03 AM | Link to this
If you buy gift cards from any place nowadays you had better make sure they are used quickly-more closings to come. Food quality and portions have diminished at many establishments lately-everyone is cutting corners.
By T-Bonious Funk
February 25, 2009 9:14 PM | Link to this
Elsa’s is crap. five or ten years ago, it was good, but the prices have gone up and the quality of the food has gone down… WAY DOWN. I always judge a Mexican joint by the salsa and you really can’t get much better than Tacqeria Mixteca on E. Third St. Great prices, and great food! Any time you can leave a place full after lunch for less than seven bucks with tip, I’d call that a bargain! El Toro and Las Piramides are pretty good too.
By Trojan
February 25, 2009 8:17 PM | Link to this
Troy has 2 of the best Mexican restaurants - LaFiesta and ElSombrero. Both offer wonderful service, food and prices!
By d havens
February 25, 2009 7:55 PM | Link to this
The best Mexican food is in Lemoore, Ca. Senior Panchos. Hands down.
By m.jones
February 25, 2009 7:16 PM | Link to this
Larry,I agree with you about Elsa’s in Kettering.Bad Juans are good but over priced.The wait help are always rude.That’s why I quit going.Although the free appetizers are a plus.Not enough to get me and my friends back.Rude.rude,rude.
By WC resident
February 25, 2009 6:20 PM | Link to this
The West Carrollton city council does not believe in growth and/or support of their businesses. If they had, they would have annexed the land where Home Depot and Showcase cinemas currently sits when they had the opportunity. The former city manager and mayor said the land was unusable and wanted WC to stay small. Now look at them, they have to install red light cameras and force their police officers to write more tickets to generate revenue because they cant attract a larger tax base. However, I am not sad to see Pepitos go. That place was a crime scene waiting to happen.
By larry
February 25, 2009 6:13 PM | Link to this
pat,only the linden ave elsa’s is the best…as far drinks go.the bad juan is the best! the elsa’s in centerville(ON RT 48) has two of the rudiest,unmotivating male and female server/bartender working during the week in the afternoon is the reason we quit going there.get rid of them and my friends and i will come back.but for now we’ll go to linden ave.john will treat you right!
By Gary
February 25, 2009 4:41 PM | Link to this
El Toro in Vandalia is the best. Great food,great service and good time. The crew ther is just like family.
By Anna
February 25, 2009 4:17 PM | Link to this
Los Reyes best by far. Great service and excellent salsa. The best salsa around. Food is good and very consistent. The service is great (did I already say that?).
By Mark Fisher
February 25, 2009 4:05 PM | Link to this
Patti Peck: I should have asked that question. At 4 p.m. Wednesday, an employee of the Catalpa restaurant said she couldn’t say whether that Pepito’s would honor gift certificates purchased from the West Carrollton restaurant, but she pointed out that the two restaurants have different ownership. The only person who can decide is not available, nor is he reachable, today, I was told. And there was no answer at the Kettering location, which has been closed for lunch. I suggest giving those restaurants a call and pleading your case directly, but I’ll pass along any information that I’m able to get.
By patti peck
February 25, 2009 2:16 PM | Link to this
I had purchased coupons/gift cards for Christmas gifts for family members. Will the other Pepito’s honor these ? Thank you.
By william
February 25, 2009 1:39 PM | Link to this
Las Piramides in Centerville is my favorite Mexican restaurant, although I wish the Kettering location hadn’t closed.
By McRib
February 25, 2009 1:25 PM | Link to this
Yo quiero, Taco Bell!
By JRK
February 25, 2009 1:08 PM | Link to this
Not surprised,horrible location.Elsa’s is known for there margaritas food is ok but hands down Hacienda Grande has the best mexican food.
By ted
February 25, 2009 12:57 PM | Link to this
When did Margarita Village close?
By Betsy
February 25, 2009 12:56 PM | Link to this
I agree with Spud! Los Reyes is wonderful!
By PAT
February 25, 2009 12:46 PM | Link to this
ELSA’S IS THE BEST
By null
February 25, 2009 12:45 PM | Link to this
I’m not sure any mexican restaurant can survive in West Carrollton with Hacienda Grande as it’s competition. That place has great food, decent prices, and excellent employees. It’s always got a crowd but they seat you quickly. They’ve got the market cornered on mexican in WC. Margarita Village couldn’t survive against it and now Pepitos.
By peggy
February 25, 2009 12:34 PM | Link to this
Love El Toro,s Good food, service and the prices are good.
By Jen
February 25, 2009 12:17 PM | Link to this
We went to Pepito’s in Kettering one day for lunch & got some fried ice cream. It was soley covered in frosted corn flakes-not even cushed up! Service was so-so. Will try again since we have a gift certificate. Los Reyes is good, but by far El Toro (either across from the Greene or in Vandalia) is our choice! lol-dined there last night as a matter of fact!
By Sheryl Cowers
February 25, 2009 12:16 PM | Link to this
Loss of jobs is always a loss, Gramma. The coming soon sign has been in the window of El Rincon Tarasco on Linden for months. Is that ever going to open?
By Gramma
February 25, 2009 12:13 PM | Link to this
Terrible locarion, worse food. No loss.
By Sam
February 25, 2009 12:09 PM | Link to this
ABYSINNIA GRINGO’S ! It’s a wonder that more resturants aren’t feelin’ the crunch and closin’ up. It’s Sad!
By spud
February 25, 2009 12:07 PM | Link to this
Not a big loss. Food was so-so, service poor. For good mexican food, try Los Reyes in Kettering Woodlane Center. Great food, service, and prices.
By STAN
February 25, 2009 11:24 AM | Link to this
I went there twice and i found it was hard to get a drink refill and the salsa containers were too small!
By Lea
February 25, 2009 11:10 AM | Link to this
Kind of sad although the Pepito’s in Kettering is the only one where the food’s not awfully salty. I love to go there.
By null
February 25, 2009 11:09 AM | Link to this
Will the other Pepito’s restaurants honor gift certificates to the closed West Carrollton one?