Popular Don Pepe restaurant opening Franklin location soon

The popular Columbia restaurant, Don Pepe’s Mexican Grill — known for crafted-at-your-table “guac” and friendly customer service — will likely open this month in Franklin, said owner Luis Lugo.

The new restaurant is located in a former IHOP.

“We think that Franklin is a great market for a Mexican restaurant,” Lugo said.

Lugo and his wife, Arlene, opened the Columbia location a decade ago after first opening a restaurant in Mt. Pleasant.

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Lugo, who lives in Columbia, said he has nearly three decades of restaurant experience.

This is the couple’s second Don Pepe location. However, they own three restaurants — after buying the Bypass Deli, a culinary staple, last year in Columbia. The Bypass has been open since 1966 and has regularly been named “best burger” in Maury County.

Lugo said fresh and unique food is a focus at all their restaurants and that will continue at the Franklin location — including guacamole made at the customer’s table and various fish entrees.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Popular Don Pepe restaurant opening Franklin location soon