New Mexican Restaurant Margaritas Dressed in its Fiesta Best

You can see the buzz of activity on the Route 10 traffic circle as workers put the finishing touches on the new Mexican restaurant that will open next week in Livingston. But it’s inside the newly refinished restaurant, where you truly feel the buzz of excitement for Margaritas.

The former Houlihan’s building has been remodeled top to bottom, with only an original cement beam from the old bar remaining. Handmade Mexican artifacts adorn every nook and cranny. Prospective employees have been filing in to fill out applications. Over the weekend, the new staff went through the official orientation as they prepare to open next Tuesday, June 7.

The restaurant is Margaritas’ first franchised location, operated by Robert Kurtz of Livingston and Neal Erman of Short Hills. “I’ve lived locally for more than 20 years, and I am really excited to bring Margaritas to Livingston," Kurtz said in a prepared release.

During a hurried interview last week while the owners juggled hundreds of details, Kurtz added, “There’s no place like this in the area to have fun."

Margaritas has a loyal following in New England, where it has operated for the past 25 years.

 “We took a careful, thorough approach to finding our first franchise owner, and Robert and Neal made the decision easy for us,” said John Pelletier, founder of Margaritas, in the prepared released. “They have both the business experience and the passion to uphold Margaritas’ brand culture. And they’re well-versed in the Livingston community.”

The restaurant will offer Mexican-inspired cuisine, seating about 270 diners in flexible seating arrangements. The experience is as much about the art as it is the food. Walking through the rooms is like visiting an art gallery of hand-crafted Mexican artwork. Pelletier travels regularly to artist communities and manufacturing towns in Mexico to buy crafts, handmade tiles, pottery and carved furniture.

Developing community ties has also been important to Margaritas success. In Livingston, the restaurant will continue the company’s Full Moon Margarita Madness nights when portions of the evening’s gross lounge sales are given to local charities. Over the past 19 years, the program has contributed more than $500,000 to organizations.

“We want our guests to celebrate their special milestones with us, their birthdays and anniversaries, and to join us for our own events like Cinco de Mayo and Full Moon Margarita Madness,” said Pelletier. “We want to be the place folks celebrate their happiest occasions.”

Considering their specialty drink, the Margarita, that shouldn't be too tall an order.

IF YOU GO:
372 West Mt. Pleasant Ave., Livingston, NJ 07039
http://www.margsnj.com
Hours
Mon - Wed: 11:00 am-1:00 am
Thurs - Sat: 11:00 am-2:00 am
Sun: 11:00 am-1:00 am