Rio Bravo Cantina, an Atlanta institution and popular into the late 1990s before a string of ownership changes led to its closure in 2002, may be resurrected soon. Sources tell me that Cantina Taqueria & Tequila Bar in Terminus will soon be closed and sold, scheduled to reopen as Rio Bravo under new management and ownership. I'm told that Cantina will definitely
be open for Cinco de Mayo celebrations but is likely to shutter shortly thereafter. Cantina had been on my DeathWatch for months and its closure will not come as a surprise to most.
be open for Cinco de Mayo celebrations but is likely to shutter shortly thereafter. Cantina had been on my DeathWatch for months and its closure will not come as a surprise to most.
Cantina, owned by Atlanta-based Here to Serve Restaurants, is the third attempt by the group in the corner space in Terminus. When the restaurant first opened, it was called LOLA, and served Italian fare. Not long after, the cuisine was changed to Mediterranean though the name remained the same. Later, the restaurant was retooled entirely into Cantina. The restaurant is busy but check averages are rather low given the prices of the food items.
Rio Bravo was started in 1985 by Ray Schoenbaum, son of Shoney's founder Alex Schoenbaum. With the success of the Tex-Mex chain, Shoenbaum sold the group to Atlanta-based Applebee's in 1995. At the time of the sale, Rio Bravo was an 11-unit chain with four other restaurants. Applebee's sold the then 100-unit Rio Bravo chain to California-based Chevy's in 1999. By late 2002, the restaurant's popularity had waned, and all locations were closed.
At one point, the chain had locations in Florida, Michigan, Tennessee and Georgia. One of the more popular Atlanta area locations was at Powers Ferry Road and Barrett Parkway in Kennesaw. The Buckhead location at Roswell Road and Irby Avenue was leveled in late 2009, and I'm told developers still have plans for a hotel on the property, back in 09 said to be a Hampton Inn. In the time since the demolition, the roughly 1 acre parcel of land has functioned as a parking lot for nearby businesses.
Ray Schoenbaum currently operates Ray's Killer Creek in Alpharetta, Ray's in the City downtown, and Ray's on the River in Sandy Springs. A second Ray's on the River was planned for TOWN Brookhaven, but it along with a number of other notable eateries like Nuevo Laredo Cantina and Rolling Bones Premium Pit BBQ, all backed out. Both TOWN Brookhaven and Terminus are plagued by parking issues, but Terminus has the luxury of being situated at one of the most high traffic intersections in the city (Peachtree and Piedmont)
If Shoenbaum can re-create the fun and inviting atmosphere of the original Rio Bravo locations before their repeated ownership changes, he may just be able to find success in Buckhead once again.
What do you think of this restaurant reboot? Do you think Shoenbaum can find success in Terminus? What other restaurant of yesteryear do you miss most from Atlanta? Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.