Ramon Bravo Meza and Guillermo Bravo Meza – brothers who own the Mexican restaurant Herradura Vieja in Chelmsford – weren’t looking to open a second location.
But when one of their employees came in and told them there was a restaurant closing in Dracut and that it’s a great location, they started thinking about it.
Fast-forward about six months, and Herradura Vieja II is open for business at 34 Broadway Road. Dracut Economic Development held a ribbon-cutting to welcome the new business on October 10.
The brothers, who opened the original Herradura Vieja about six years ago, called longtime friend Juan Carlos Quintana in California, and he agreed to invest in the business venture with them.
Juan Carlos will serve as the manager of the Dracut restaurant.
“We’ve been friends for over 20 years, so they called me on March 9 to see what I thought,” Juan Carlos said. “I flew out to see it, and I thought it was a great location. So they said, hey, why not open another restaurant?”
Herradura Vieja II has all your Mexican favorites, from street tacos to queso fundido dip to churros, and everything in between.
The phrase Herradura Vieja translates to “old horseshoe,” which is reflected in the restaurant’s theme and its logo.
Ramon and Guillermo grew up on a ranch in Mexico, and their father owned horses.
“In Mexico, when a horse is no long being used for work, they remove the shoes and hang them for good luck,’ Juan Carlos said.
Herradura Vieja II is open Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9:15 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 8:30 p.m. Call 978-455-2184.
CAPTIONS:
1: Juan Carlos Quintana, owner/manager, cuts the ribbon to officially open Herradura Vieja II at 34 Broadway Road in Dracut. Helping him celebrate are, from left, Brian Lussier, representing the ownership of the plaza; Jennifer Kopcinski, member of the Board of Selectmen and Economic Development Committee; employees Adriana Guadarrama, Griselda Meza and Alexandra Oliveira; co-owners Guillermo Bravo Meza and Jaime Bravo Meza; Luis Bravo; Tim Savage, member of the economic Development Committee; and Kara Curley, representing the Health Department.
2: A mariachi band entertains at the grand opening of Herradura Vieja II, 34 Broadway Road, Dracut.