Toros Cantina and Grill, formerly Casa Poblanos in Rainsville, will reopen on Monday, June 7 after more than a five-month-long renovation project.
Following the restaurant’s temporary closure on December 21, 2020, the new space premiers a newly redesigned building and a fresh menu.
Toros hours of operation are Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Co-owner Adrian Lopez, who purchased the restaurant in 2017, said the renovations began with the demolition of the more than 30-year-old establishment to make way for the new two-story space.
“About a year and a half ago we opened Toros Cantina and Grill in Scottsboro so through the renovation process we decided to change the name of Casa Poblanos to Toros,” he said. “It’s catchy and better corporate-wise to have a centralized name and provide uniformity.”
After the City of Rainsville approved the sale of alcohol, Lopez said they wanted to add a bar to the building and offer that service to their customers.
“The only way we could grow in the building space was to go up,” he said. “We had no room on the sides so that’s why we added the second floor.”
While polishing the new building project Lopez said they took into consideration their staff and customers, and as construction began, many speculated whether the bar would be upstairs or downstairs.
“When we started the project, we thought about putting the bar upstairs and adding a terrace instead of a patio but we thought better of it due to possible liability issues,” he said. “We also have a lot of church people that we love and respect, and we thought some of them might want to be separated from the bar. Our new layout will accommodate not only them but everyone else.”
Lopez said by keeping the patio and bar downstairs, he believes it will be more convenient and comfortable for everyone.
“We left the balcony open because we thought about the possibility of hosting live music and we want everyone to interact with the musicians,” he said.
The new restaurant showcases a fashionable color scheme, new furniture and a wide variety of elements giving the architecturally designed interior and exterior a refreshing atmosphere.
“It’s a beautiful brand new building,” said Lopez. “It’s been a lot of work and honestly we are a month behind schedule, but I am very happy and blessed to be a part of this project.”
Toros is set to feature a fresh variety of food items, some with the same touch as Casa Poblanos offered.
“Our menu will be available online and we are also going to continue to offer our lunch buffet,” Lopez said. “We have a lot of factories and industries around here and it makes it very convenient for workers to come by and grab a bite to eat then head back to work.”
The buffet bar will be available Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“We are incorporating better quality food into the buffet and we have plans to change the options or rotate them out often so it doesn’t get repetitive,” said Lopez.
A full lunch menu will also be available for those who opt-out of the buffet during the designated times.
“We are going to have a full bar menu with drink specials all week, as well as happy hour and live music every so often featuring local musicians,” he said. “But more than anything we are going to continue to provide a family atmosphere.”
The new establishment can host up to 225 people. To support its new capacity Lopez said they now own the building next door including the parking areas which will allow them to accommodate around another 40 vehicles.
“We’ve added steps and a walkway to connect it and make it wheelchair accessible, as well,” he said.
The redesigned space will also offer customers drive-through service.
“We’ve added a drive-thru window,” said Lopez. “I think that’s going to be beneficial and convenient for people who are not interacting with large crowds. It’s going to be a great service.”
Although Lopez is no stranger to the food and restaurant industry, having been in the restaurant line of work since he was 17 years old, he said there is always room to learn and new techniques to apply.
“I want to think we know what we are doing but there’s always room to grow,” he said. “We’ve learned a lot from our employees, who are great people, and have all had unique ideas that we’ve tried to incorporate.”
Lopez welcomes loyal and new customers to visit Toros as it strives to provide its customers with a quality experience.
Toros Cantina and Grill is located at 462 Main St. E, Rainsville, AL 35986 along Alabama Hwy 35.