Pueblo Nuevo Expands Its Hazelwood Business

Local Mexican restaurant, , which means “new town” in Spanish, is expanding their bar this month. The new bar area will be twice as large as the old one and encompasses the area next door that used to be Jackson Hewitt tax service.

As of now, the bar can accommodate roughly 20 to 30 patrons but with the expansion 60 to 70 people will be able to fit comfortably. The expansion is set to be finished by Nov. 25, a date which will mark the restaurant's 28th year of service.

Owner Bertha Morales, hopes the finishing touches will be in place on the date, and is planning a celebration.

“Our goal is to have everything wrapped up by our anniversary so we can finally have some fun,” said Morales.

The expansion project has been a long and arduous task. Morales and her son decided to expand back in June but had to go through three months of talks with the city and did not receive their permits until September.

Morales isn’t the only one excited for the expansion. Loyal customer, Kathy Dibbert, of Hazelwood, has been coming to Pueblo Nuevo for 15 or so years now and doesn’t plan on stopping.

“I love this place. I’m so glad they’re expanding,” said Dibbert, “They have the best tacos and margaritas.

"I only live five minutes away so I get carry-out from here a lot too.”

Morales and family decided to expand because they noticed a lot of their profit was coming from the bar.

“With the food costs and our overhead being so high, alcohol gives a higher profit margin,” Morales said. “The younger people like to be around the bar more than the restaurant.”

Morales plans to capitalize on this by adding two TV’s , several golf games
like Golden Tee, various video games, dart boards and a Foosball table.There will also be dart leagues beginning this year.

Pueblo Nuevo is not only family-owned, but is also family-renovated, with the majority of work being accomplished by Morales’ son.

“He’s been working very hard," she said. "He picked all the new tiling and wall coverings and has been doing them himself.”

Leah Henderson, who has been a server at Pueblo Nuevo for one year now, is also excited about the renovation.

“I am very excited about it,” she said. “It’s always really busy when the boxing matches and UFC fights come on so this is more overflow for the restaurant when it gets super busy.”

The family said it is very proud of the name they have made for themselves and the work they’ve done.

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