Zocalo at The Fountains May Open This Month

Everyone's first question about the new Zocalo restaurant slated to open at the Fountains at Roseville shopping center is "when will it open?" While there's not yet a firm date, co-owner Jimmy Johnson is fairly confident it will happen sometime this month.

All the required permits are in, staff is undergoing training and the first shipment of fixtures and decor from Mexico has arrived, he said. The menu will be the same as the original midtown Sacramento location, but the Roseville restaurant will feature a rotisserie and a larger, lounge-like patio area, Johnson said.

The building is a bit smaller than the midtown spot – the Roseville location is 4,500 square feet, compared to 6,000 square feet in midtown – but the larger patio will be a nice hang out spot, he said.

The decor will also be somewhat different, Johnson said, though it's from the same designer – Ernesto Cruz – whose work adorns the walls and creates the atmosphere at midtown Zocalo. There will be a 20-feet diameter chandelier, hand-carved wood columns and light fixtures.

"Everything he does is on a grand scale," he said. "You need a big space for his stuff, we're excited about it, it's going to look really cool."

Friday's street fair in Roseville will be an opportunity for people to chat with Zocalo representatives, Johnson, and get a better feel of the restaurant. A mariachi band will also be there to create a musical buzz.

"That's the good thing about being independent, you can do cool things the chains can't do," Johnson said about the restaurant's decor and feel.