Barrio Expanding Outside Ohio, Announces New Restaurant

LAKEWOOD, OH — Barrio will open its first restaurant outside of the Greater Cleveland area, the company announced this week. The award winning taco joint is heading to Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

Barrio founders Tommy Leneghan and Sean Fairbairn will be partnering with two New Hampshire residents to open the new location, Maggie and Dan Osborn. Notably, Maggie is Leneghan's sister.

“I know it will be a great addition to the community,” she said.

Famous for its build-your-own-tacos concept, the Barrio brand has grown rapidly. The first Barrio restaurant opened in Tremont in 2012. In the span of six years, Leneghan and Fairbairn have launched new locations in Lakewood, Cleveland Heights, Willoughby and downtown Cleveland.

Along the way, Barrio has won both local and national acclaim.

“As we continue to grow, we’re committed to maintaining the same neighborhood feel as our Cleveland-based restaurants. We’re sourcing fresh, local ingredients, and working to build a beer list that includes local brews,” says Sean

The look and feel of the New Hampshire Barrio should be similar to the Cleveland-area restaurants. That's partly because Barrio’s original artist Michael “Mac” McNamara will be creating murals and metal artwork for that location as well.

The Portsmouth Barrio will be at the 3S Artspace at 319 Vaughan Street. It's expected to open this summer.

Photo from Colin McEwen, Patch