Eat Arkansas: Juanita's: New owner

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Juanita's: New owner

^{-- Brian Chilson photo}

Juanita’s Mexican Cafe and Bar, the venerable Tex-Mex fixture on South Main, has been sold.

Johnny Weaver and his wife Alicia closed a deal to buy the place Wednesday. The seller was the widow of long-time owner Frank McGehee.

Existing management will stay in place said Weaver, 37, an auction company owner and occasional singer with the band 13 X, which plays Juanita’s from time to time.

“My passion is the same as yours,” Weaver said. “It’s with the restaurant and its location. It’s been a special place for me. … We’re just going to pick up the ball and keep things rolling. We hope to do what Frank would have done to complete his vision of things.”

Changes on the entertainment side: Future live music shows will be 21 and up. There’ll be no more 18 and older nights. “I also can see doing more radio station promotions and more theme nights,” he said.

Also, he said, he hopes to fill a few “holes” in the menu with some dishes he’s seen in Texas and Southern California, plus additional salsas made to his wife’s family recipes.

One menu addition: a fish taco made not in the Little Rock fashion with battered and fried fish, but with grilled fish, in the Mexican style.

Posted by Max Brantley on October 1, 2008 12:21 PM | Permalink

Comments

I hope the new owners till take a look at the menu. It could use some freshening.

Posted by: Nemo | October 1, 2008 12:37 PM

I am excited about the fish taco. Hopefully it has cabbage and not lettuce, chipotle sauce instead of tarter sauce and a corn tortilla instead of flour. I haven't seen Little Rock make one right, just yet. Also it would be nice to get some better bands playing. I don't think a 21+ audience is going to be into all the teenager bands that seem to be playing there more often. Good luck with the changes... keep us updated:

http://www.littlerocklivemusic.net

Posted by: T | October 1, 2008 12:50 PM

"T" You obviously haven't been to Blue Coast Burrito yet...or even the Flying Fish who by the way does a different take on the fish taco. The best fish tacos can be found in San Diego.

Posted by: StonedBored | October 1, 2008 01:13 PM

Just got back from San Diego -- and I have to agree with StonedBored. Best fish tacos I've ever had.

Posted by: Kelly | October 1, 2008 01:16 PM

I do hope they "freshen" up the menu. There's only one or two things edible there, the Jamaican Jerk Chicken and the San Antonio Salad with Chicken.

Just how did Jamaican Jerk Chicken make it on a Tex-Mex restaurant's menu? It's neither Tex nor Mex.

Arky

Posted by: Arky | October 1, 2008 01:20 PM

I would have to agree that while overpriced, Blue Coast is about as close as you are going to get out here. Obviously fresh fish is hard to come by in AR and I've noticed the fish has a freezer burn taste every now and then. And by the way, I've lived my entire life in San Diego, just moved here 2 years ago. : ) I'll have to check out Flying Fish's take on it.

Posted by: T | October 1, 2008 01:25 PM

Congrats to Johnny and Alicia...

I am sure you will do an excellent job...see you there!

Posted by: rosso | October 1, 2008 01:27 PM

If you want the best Baja style carne asada tacos in central Arkansas I would recommend the taco truck that parks out front of Best Carwash in the Wal Mart shopping center off Chenal. The truck is there Tues-Sat from around 11:30 to 3:00. Their tacos are on par with anything in San Diego.

Posted by: T | October 1, 2008 01:30 PM

i hope the move to 21+ on the music side isn't so they can allow smoking.

Then again, Juanita's has hosted maybe 3-4 shows that interested me in the least in the last 4 years.

Sad-- as i used to go there all the time for first rate touring artists.

Posted by: spinsouth | October 1, 2008 03:13 PM

Some of the best shows and times ever were at Juanita's in the 90's.
Michael Hedges x3
Ani DiFranco (I opened for her)
Robert Earl Keen (him too)
10 Hands
Train - practically glowed
Janis Ian
Joan Baez
Countless benefits for women and creatures

Please let it stay smoke free and work on the car-to-door security.

Posted by: KF | October 1, 2008 05:24 PM

I hope they'll get rid of the damn Pepsi and go back to Coke.

Posted by: Carrick Patterson | October 1, 2008 06:06 PM

Flying Fish has a hard taco, very different, but very good.

Other good shows have been Maroon 5 and Pat Green.

Posted by: StonedBored | October 2, 2008 07:48 AM

Leo Kottke
The Del McCoury Band

What happened?

Posted by: FoodDude | October 2, 2008 09:03 AM

The Radiators. Joe "King" Carrasco.

Posted by: Whoscrumdown | October 2, 2008 09:19 AM

I want to thank T for the heads up about the taco truck off Chenal. Went there for lunch today and it was awesome.

And add Cracker to the list of great shows at Juanita's.

Posted by: Whit E. Knight | October 2, 2008 04:13 PM

Warren Zevon, Iris Dement, Robert Earl Keen, Govt Mule, John Entwistle, Ugly Americans, Maroon 5, Train -- man oh man I've seen some fabulous shows at Juanita's, but too often through a cloud of smoke. Would generally stand at the back by patio door and open it for ventilation

Posted by: Big Fun | October 2, 2008 04:23 PM

"I am excited about the fish taco. Hopefully it has cabbage and not lettuce, chipotle sauce instead of tarter sauce and a corn tortilla instead of flour. I haven't seen Little Rock make one right, just yet. - T"

You need to go to COnway over to Mickie's Bluefish Grill.

They've got really great Fish Taco's - mahe with blackened Mahi Mahi - served on your choice of Corn or Flour Totillia - comes with a bed of shredded cabbage. Rumour has it that it's going to be part of a special feature menu starting next week.

Posted by: Wellwood | October 2, 2008 08:05 PM

New owners better not f with the chips and salsa or cheese dip.

Posted by: Rey Pygsterio | October 3, 2008 10:30 AM

a few of my favorites:
Richard Thompson
Radiators
Hot Tuna
Poi Dog Pondering
John McLaughlin
Aquarium Rescue Unit
Bela Fleck
Gov't Mule
Leftover Salmon
Tower of Power
Victor Wooten
Del Fuegos
and yeah, the food is OK too
could I go on? Oh, yes...

Posted by: Amanita | October 3, 2008 03:13 PM

Mick Taylor.

And, to be fair, they did have Green Day recently.

Posted by: Wanda Tinasky | October 3, 2008 04:07 PM

Good fish tacos are rare in LR. I like the Flying Fish, but they use a crunchy shell.
The best ones in my opinion reside in San Diego at Rubio's
Yum!!!!!

I heard that Mexico Chiquito are making ones with fried Mahi Mahi. I may need to try them and see if they rate.

Posted by: Raven | October 7, 2008 01:36 PM

You really need to check the one's out at Mickie's in Conway - their Fish Taco's rock!

Flying Fish would be jealous, trust me.

Posted by: Wellwood | October 10, 2008 08:35 AM

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Juanita's: New owner

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