CALERA – A ribbon cutting ceremony was held on Monday, July 8, for the new Zapopan restaurant that opened July 1 on Beverly Drive.

The new 7,500 square-foot restaurant is owned by Alejandro Chavez. He operates the business, which specializes in Mexican cuisine, with his wife Holly and their children Alejandra and Alejandro Chavez II.

The building sits behind Zaxby’s and was constructed by Montevallo-based Wayne Davis Construction LLC.

Zapopan has been a part of the Calera community for more than 17 years. The restaurant used to be located on U.S. 31, but Alejandro Chavez said at the groundbreaking for the new restaurant that relocation was necessary to accommodate growth.

The new facility includes an open bar, a bigger kitchen, an outside patio, more than 100 parking spaces and a drop-off car port for when it’s raining outside. The new facility can accommodate nearly 300 people.

The restaurant is open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.