New Kensington Mexican restaurant owner hopes liquor license will bring more diners

The owner of a Mexican restaurant in downtown New Kensington hopes margaritas, beer and cocktails will attract more diners.

Without any questions or concerns, city council approved Jose Tecuanhuehue’s request to transfer a liquor license into the city for his restaurant, Taqueria El Pastorcito, at 929 Fourth Ave.

The license would come from Old Mexico of Belle Vernon in Rostraver.

The license, last issued in March, is in safekeeping, according to the state Liquor Control Board. A license in safekeeping is not in active use but can be sold or transferred.

There are 17 active liquor licenses in New Kensington, said Daniel Conlon, an attorney with Tucker Arensberg representing Tecuanhuehue. Since none of those was available for transfer, the restaurant asked to transfer one from Rostraver, Conlon said.

Tecuanhuehue was drawn to open a storefront in New Kensington, which he did in April 2022, after bringing his food truck to the city for the first year of the monthly Fridays on Fifth in 2021.

Since then, Tecuanhuehue, a native of Puebla, Mexico, moved his family from Pittsburgh’s South Side to New Kensington, added a second food truck and, in March, opened a grocery store, Tienda Mexicana El Pastorcito in Monroeville, that also supplies his food trucks and restaurant.

One of his two food trucks is typically always at the grocery store, Tecuanhuehue said. Because of that, he’s planning to get a third next year so two are always on the move.

New Kensington Mayor Tom Guzzo said Tecuanhuehue and his wife, Bernice, are “a treasure.”

“They work so hard, have amazing personalities and their food is outstanding,” he said. “They are a true success story in New Kensington. They started out here by having their food truck at Fridays on Fifth and, based on their success, decided they want to have a permanent restaurant site downtown. Their business is doing very well.

“We’re grateful that they’re here and hope to have them here for a very long time.”

With the city’s approval of the license transfer in-hand, Tecuanhuehue’s request now goes to the Liquor Control Board for approval. It’s not known how long the state review will take, LCB spokesman Shawn Kelly said.

Once he gets the license, Tecuanhuehue plans to build a bar inside the restaurant and make some changes to his menu. He also plans to provide table service, instead of customers ordering when they walk in.

For beers, Tecuanhuehue said he will offer Mexican and American brands, including some from local breweries. He is working on a drink menu.

“It’s not going to be a complicated menu, but something delicious people can enjoy,” he said.

Tecuanhuehue is expecting that having a liquor license could increase his business by about 40%. Since opening more than two years ago, he has found that customers who came in expecting to be able to order an alcoholic beverage with their food don’t come back.

“I want to make my customers happy,” he said. “I want them to visit me again.”

Tecuanhuehue also plans to have the restaurant open later. It’s hours now are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday, and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday. He offers breakfast Sunday mornings only.