Popular Tex-Mex restaurant Guapo’s will open its 7th traditional restaurant location in the building that was formerly home to Chevy’s at 3052 Gate House Plaza in Falls Church, according to a BizJournals report. Late owner Hector Rincón opened the original Guapo’s in Tenleytown (DC) 31 years ago and has since opened locations in Shirlington, Bethesda, Gaithersburg, Fair Lakes, Tenleytown and Georgetown (the most recent location, which opened in 2018). The Rincon family still operates all Guapo’s restaurants.
Chevys is an American chain of Tex-Mex restaurants that was founded in 1986 by Warren Simmons in Alameda, California. In the late 90’s the chain grew to approximately 100 restaurants nationwide, including a Gaithersburg location where Buffalo Wild Wings operates today in the Quince Orchard shopping center (photo seen below). As of last year, there were 22 Chevys Fresh Mex restaurants located throughout the United States, mostly in northern California (9 locations). The closest Chevys locations are located in Arlington and Greenbelt.
Gatehouse Plaza, where the new Guapo’s will open in place of Chevys, is also home to According to the report, “Guapo’s first applied for a building permit in February to renovate the space, to include “adjustment” to the bar area, dining and patio. Fairfax County just issued the permit on Sept. 9.” Featured photo courtesy of Google Maps.
Who knows what’s in this location now?https://t.co/9ULKOD86pL pic.twitter.com/YHOSj3QTZy
— The MoCoShow (MCS) (@TheMoCoShow) January 22, 2022