When Juan Henao and his team at La Parrilla launched the brand 31 years ago in Marietta, they started with a small 2,000-square-foot restaurant with $80,000 of investment from credit cards. At the time, expansion seemed distant.
“It was a tough beginning, and every time we drove by when they first built On The Border, we saw that as something that was almost impossible,” Henao told What Now Atlanta. “Only the big restaurant groups would be able to open in the heart of Buckhead, right on that intersection. And we saw this opportunity now, and I think it was about time for La Parrilla to be part of the Buckhead neighborhood.”
The La Parrilla team has plans to move into the nearly 7,500-square-foot space at 1 Buckhead Loop, Suite 130. The spot was formerly home to On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina. The new location, which will mark the 20th for the brand in Georgia and the 22nd for the brand as a whole, is slated to open in the summer of 2026.
“Right now we feel very, very proud that after 31 years in the business we are serving now the children of the children that used to come when we first opened La Parrilla,” Henao said. “That’s what we’re going to do in Buckhead. We’re going to serve those families and just stay in Buckhead and be part of the community.”
The space will offer the same Mexican-inspired design as in other La Parrilla locations. Menu items include enchiladas, tacos, quesadillas, bowls, nachos, burritos and seafood. They will also be bringing the same La Parrilla atmosphere that customers can find at other locations.
“At the end of the day, we understand that a restaurant is a restaurant because of the people that work in the restaurants, the people who are serving and making the food,” Henao said. “So we’re going to bring people from different restaurants to help us open this new location and to create the same atmosphere that we have been doing for the past 31 years.”
As they move forward, Henao and the team are looking to continue to expand outward, eyeing other states. They currently have a location open in Dothan, Ala. and Greenville, South Carolina. In the future, Henao hopes to continue growth in both states, starting with a new location in the works in Madison, Ala.
