PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A new Mexican restaurant is looking to open in the former Baba Louie's location on Depot street in the next month or so.

 

Jose Luis Verde is looking to open Tito's, a new chain restaurant with establishments in Ohio and Tennessee. Verde received approval for the liquor license on Monday and as soon as the OK is given by the state's Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission, the restaurant is ready to open.

 

"We have Mexican food, we try to make it a nice atmosphere," Verde told the Licensing Board.

 

Verde signed a lease with property owners Whaling Properties in June and is getting the liquor license from Baba Louie's. During the summer, Baba Louie's has been moving out while Verde has renovated the inside. The new restaurant will be slightly smaller than Baba Louie's with a backroom now being walled off and rented to another tenant. Overall, the restaurant will have around 3,200 square feet.

 

The Licensing Board did express some concern with the delay in applications to the board, which attorney Matthew Fogelman said was caused by the transition and paperwork from Baba Louie's to Tito's. 

 

The plan is to open in the next month, provided the ABCC grant the final approval — though often that process can take six to eight weeks. Nonetheless, Verde and Fogelman said mostly everything else is ready to go.

 

"They are excited to come to town. It is going to be a good expansion for them," Fogelman said.

 

Verde is moving to Pittsfield from Cleveland to open the restaurant. He said he found Pittsfield during a cross-country trip during which he and a business partner were considering places for expansion. The restaurant is one focused on the food, including keeping the kitchen open late.

 

"We are focused on a family restaurant. It is not a bar. I don't want people to get the idea of let's go to Tito's to drink," Verde said.

 

The restaurant does not plan to apply for an entertainment license either. 

 

Verde has two Tito's restaurants in Ohio and one in Tennessee and is also a partner in other restaurants with different names. He'll serve as the manager, expecting to put in much more than 40 hours.

 

"I'm going to work more than 40 hours. I am there from 11 a.m. until closing time, seven days a week," Verde said.

 

The restaurant is eyed to be open from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m. from Sunday until Thursday and stay open until 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. Those late night hours are what the Licensing Board urged Verde to be present for because it is typically late at night when the manager isn't there when establishments make mistakes.

 

"If you are planning on being there six days a week, those times are very important to us," said Dana Doyle.

 

In other business, the Licensing Board approved transfers of manager and licenses for a shake up with the former Jae's Bistro in Lenox, which is moving to Pittsfield. Owner Susan Chung is opening the former Seven Grill, a steak house on Winter Street, as Jae's Grill — which is essentially closing Jae's Bistro in Lenox and moving it there while adding some steakhouse flare to the restaurant. 

 

With that, the manager from Vong's, which she owns, is moving on to manage the new restaurant. Vong's assistant manager is being promoted to manager.

 

And further, Vong's has purchased the all-alcohol license from the former Hot Dog Ranch on Linden Street, which had moved to the former Jimmy's Restaurant and took on that license instead. Now, Vong's is selling its wine and malt license to an unnamed client.

 

"We've got a series of transactions that are allowing us to see the end of the road," attorney Jeff Lynch said.

 

Seven Winter Grill has been closed while renovations were done to the inside. A license has to be used by the establishment but the Licensing Board has patience with the owners as long as they are making progress toward using it.

 

Jae's Grill is eyed to be opened in mid-November.