El Toro to open Mexican restaurant in old TGI Fridays near Dayton Mall

Renovations are underway at the former TGI Fridays restaurant at 2022 Miamisburg-Centerville Road in the South Towne Center east of the Dayton Mall to accommodate a Mexican restaurant, the owner of the property told this news outlet.

Maria Pace, spokeswoman for New York City-based Brixmor Property Group, said El Toro Mexican Bar & Grill has leased the 8,300-square-foot TGI Fridays "to accommodate their need for more space."

>> Centerville Ohio is becoming a HOTBED of Mexican restaurants

Enrique Alvarez, district manager for El Toro, confirmed those plans and said the existing El Toro restaurant at 2335 Miamisburg-Centerville Road will shut down when the new restaurant opens.

Alvarez said he expects the new location to open in the first quarter of 2019.

>> Why did TGI Fridays shut down its Dayton Mall restaurant?

The current restaurant in the Shoppes at 725 across from the Dayton Mall shares a parking lot with several other retail businesses. The new location’s dedicated parking, and the restaurant’s larger size, were factors in the decision to relocate, Alvarez said.

The TGI Fridays shut its doors for good on Sept. 6 in the South Towne Center.

PHOTOS: Did we spot you at Masquerage?

The move comes just a few months after El Toro — which operates a dozen locations in the Dayton area — confirmed plans for its 13th restaurant in the Centerville Square Shopping Center at 894 S. Main St. in south Centerville.

>> Nurses at Bellbrook El Toro restaurant rush to help infant

Plans call for that new restaurant to be built out in the 4,627-square-foot space at 894-C S. Main St., the previous Buffalo Wings & Rings space in the Centerville Square Shopping Center at Ohio 48 and Spring Valley Pike.

Alvarez said this morning the new Centerville restaurant is on track to open in the next few weeks.

>> Graveyard of restaurants claims its final victim in Kettering