Americanos Now Open At Former Leona's Spot

CHICAGO, IL - Residents of Beverly and Morgan Park have a new option for Mexican food in the neighborhood and it's at a spot they've likely dined at before. Americanos opened Thursday in the building just north of 111th and Western, where Leona's established itself as a neighborhood favorite for years.

Americanos, 11060 S. Western Ave. is owned by A.J. Castillo, who has operated a food truck in downtown Chicago in recent years. This is his first restaurant, although he's been in the restaurant industry for years.

"We are doing very authentic Mexican food," he said. "We are going to concentrate on some very famous flavors."

He says Americanos will celebrate Mexican-Americans and all cultures.

"While we will serve Mexican food, our premise to have people who have backgrounds from all different parts of the world coming to one place to eat," he said. "Americanos is bigger than just one culture."

Castillo, 27 is a lifelong South Sider having grown up in Garfield Ridge near Midway Airport and whose spent much of his adult life in Pilsen. He's a 2008 alum of St. Rita High School and earned a degree from the University of Illinois in 2013.

Americanos came to be over the course of the past seven months.

Leona's closed in August 2017. Originally, the spot on the west side of Western between 110th and 111th was slated to be Firewater Saloon, which opened earlier this month in Mount Greenwood. But Castillo said he worked with the Firewater owners and came to an agreement that Americanos would take form at the building.

While working on getting everything ready to open, Castillo says he's learned a whole lot about Beverly and Morgan Park.

"I went to (St.) Rita and know the South Side, but much of how everything works in this neighborhood was brand new to me," he said. "I'm excited to give this neighborhood a taste of my vision."

Americanos will serve tacos, salsas, tortas and a number of other plates. Castillo has plans to serve cocktails, craft beers, Mexican beers and draft beers once a liquor license is obtained.

The restaurant will be open until 10 p.m. tonight. At first, it will be open six days a week (closed Mondays) from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m. When there's a liquor license, Castillo said it will likely be open until midnight or even later on the weekends.

Photo provided by Arman Castillo