A new mural goes viral with Columbus foodies. What’s coming to town?
A new mural caught the eye of hundreds of Columbus foodies this past week, causing speculation about a new restaurant opening.
On Feb. 10, Phil Menzie posted a photo of the former Pure Taqueria at 8186 Veterans Parkway on the Columbus, GA Foodies Facebook page.
“Can’t wait to see the finished product…,” Menzie wrote. “Old pure building.”
The post has garnered over 300 comments and over 700 likes. Columbus residents expressed their opinions about the mural and the building’s possible new tenant.
“Mural is beautiful but WHY did they have to paint the whole thing white?” Callie Parker White wrote in the comments. “Definitely looks like a mini car dealership now. But also, if this is going to be Mexican cuisine, Monarca is literally 5 feet away.”
Sandra Leigh Gunnels commented,“So glad the building didn’t stay empty long. Excited to try the new place. Welcome to North Columbus!”
Official plans for the building have not been announced as of publication.
Who is renovating the former Pure Taqueria?
A building permit was posted on the window of the former restaurant. The owner is listed as “Sapo’s LLC.”
Sapo’s LLC is run by Sergio Mendoza and Alejandro Hernandez, according to their business filing on the Georgia Secretary of State’s website. They own and operate Columbus restaurants Sapo’s Mexican Cocina at 3033 Manchester Expressway and Me Encanta Modern Mexican Cuisine at 1231 Broadway.
It’s unclear what the plans are for the new business; however, renovations were ongoing inside the former restaurant as of Feb. 18.
Representatives from Sapo’s LLC did not respond to the Ledger-Enquirer’s request for comment.
What happened to Pure Taqueria?
Pure Taqueria permanently closed last year. The team announced the closure in a Facebook post.
“The final days of Pure Columbus are here – Come visit us one last time before we close our doors on September 7,” the post says. “With love, the Pure Taqueria team.”
Pure Taqueria opened its first location in 2005 at the site of a 1920s-era Pure Fuel Oil station in Alpharetta, Georgia, according to their website. The Columbus location was one of the restaurant’s seven in Georgia.