Tap N Taco, a popular Mexican restaurant from Albuquerque, New Mexico, is getting ready to cross state lines to Arizona for the first time, with a new location coming to Chandler at 141 S. Arizona Ave.
The company’s second location is set to replace Serranos Mexican Restaurant in Downtown Chandler. Owner Joshua Martinez, who will operate this location with his wife, Anna, tells What Now Phoenix that they purchased the 13,250-square-foot building last week and hope to open the new site in Spring 2025. Tap N Taco was also founded by Juan Estala, Joel Marquez, and Javier Chavira, who opened the restaurant in 2021. The Martinezes, who also live in Chandler, bought the property for $4.58 million.
“It is with mixed emotions – but surely pride – that we announce the sale of the property and the closing of our Chandler restaurant location that our parents, Ernie and Eva, founded,” said Serrano’s General Partner, Ric Serrano, in a statement. “We happily still operate our three other Serrano’s restaurants, two in Mesa and one in Queen Creek. Also, we continue to operate our Pronto location in Tempe. Operating the business has been a family affair, our goal has always been to honor our parents’ vision, we all feel very satisfied that we accomplished that. Our family has been involved in business in Chandler for 105 years, with our original venture starting in 1919 with Serrano Brothers Popular Store, a department store that operated for 60 years. We take lots of pride in our deep and longstanding relationships in the Chandler community and wish the very best to our buyer that is pursuing their own Mexican restaurant concept on site. We will be there to support them, to keep the tradition alive.”
When Tap N Taco opens its second location next year, customers can expect a team passionate about offering delicious Mexican tacos and other delicious meals, such as quesadillas and nachos, and plenty of beer, wine, and cocktails. The restaurant also occasionally features karaoke and a live DJ. The restaurant is expected to take over only a portion of the space, while the other half will be converted into shared business offices for local entrepreneurs and professionals. Peter Sciacca from Launch Real Estate represented the buyers, Joshua and Anna.
“This flagship family restaurant location opened in 1979 in Downtown Chandler and flourished for 45 years, it was truly our honor to be part of the sale of such an iconic restaurant,” NAI Horizon Executive Vice President Lane Neville, who represented the seller with Senior Associate Cole Neville, and Associates Matt Westra, Whitney Heritage, and 08, said in a statement. “Based on the superb location and abundant buyer interest, we utilized our proprietary competitive bid sale process to generate the best price for our client.”
