Ribbon Cut At New Restaurant In Fairfield

FAIRFIELD, CT — Fairfield officials helped cut the ribbon Tuesday at Salsa Fresca, a new addition to the Lake Hills Shopping Center.

First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick joined Director of New Restaurant Openings Sarah Valdes and Director of Operations Terri Palumbo for the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the restaurant, 2222 Black Rock Turnpike.

Salsa Fresca is a fast-casual Mexican eatery featuring an open-kitchen concept with fresh ingredients and traditional flavors. The restaurant also uses eco-friendly building materials and dining supplies.

“We are excited to continue to grow our footprint in CT and Fairfield was a great location on the Black Rock Turnpike sharing a plaza with Trader Joe’s,” Salsa Fresca Chief Operating Officer Eric Friedman said in a town news release.

Salsa Fresca is opening seven new locations in 2022 in Avon, Manchester, Newington, Fishkill, Newburgh, Thornwood and Brewster. The chain plans to open another 10 restaurants in 2023. All the new additions will be corporate stores, but Salsa Fresca has plans to franchise as well.

"Our short-term goal is to offer franchise locations to our current employees so they can become business owners with us," Friedman said in the news release. "We recently rolled out an employee profit-sharing program where we share 20 percent of our profits with all active employees each quarter. Salsa Fresca is locally owned and operated and the founders are still very involved today.”

Salsa Fresca is open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

“We are delighted to welcome Salsa Fresca to our community and wish them much success in their newest location,” said Mark Barnhart, Fairfield's director of community and economic development.

Salsa Fresca customers can order in-store, online or through the restaurant's app. For more information, visit salsafrescagrill.com.