By EMILY REED

Special to the Reporter

MT LAUREL – La Paz Mexican restaurant will soon open its doors to the Mt Laurel community, offering fresh, high-end Mexican food to its customers.

This is the second location to open in Alabama, after the original location in Crestline that has been open for more than 20 years.

“We also have a location in Destin, Fla., but we just felt like Birmingham is growing down 280, and Mt Laurel is an up-and-coming community,” said Clete Walker, one of the restaurant’s owners. “The area is really growing dramatically, and a lot of people know they get quality food when they eat at La Paz, so we thought this was a great way for us to expand our franchise. We offer a very family-friendly atmosphere, which is the feel you get when you visit Mt Laurel.”

Walker said the restaurant is known for its cheese dip, which he describes as both “delicious” and “addictive.”

“I can easily say La Paz has some of the best cheese dip I have ever had,” Walker said. “I have traveled the country, and I have never had a cheese dip as good as La Paz.”

Other customer favorites include fish tacos, quesadillas and blue corn nachos.

“Our customers know when they come to our restaurant they are going to get high quality Mexican food,” Walker said. “We use only fresh ingredients.”

The restaurant will be located at the front of Mt Laurel Avenue, in the space formerly occupied by Mr. Harry’s, allowing for a spacious dining area and a beautiful screened-in patio area, according to a press release about the restaurant’s opening.

La Paz is managed by Red Mountain Restaurant Group, which is made up of partners including Ellen Prince, general manager who has been with the Crestline location for 21 years; Walker; Bobby Dillon; Cannon Prickett; and Sam Drummond.

While there is no definite opening date, Walker said the restaurant is hoping to have something available for customers on Cinco de Mayo, May 5.

“At this point we are not really sure if we will have a full-service restaurant available then or not, but we are hoping to at least have the bar open and offer some appetizers to those that want to come out,” Walker said. “Our ultimate goal is to have a full-service restaurant up and running by mid-May.”

For more information about the restaurant’s progress and official opening date, follow MtLaurel.com/blog or visit Mt Laurel on Facebook.