Frida’s Restaurante Mexicano, a Memphis-based Mexican restaurant with two current locations, has signed a second lease of 1,600 square feet for an “Express” concept in Phase 1 of The Lake District.
The Express model is in addition to its already announced full-service restaurant of 5,000-square feet with 1,000-square feet of patio-seating planned for Phase 2.
“The addition of the Express concept immediately allows us to have an impact in Lakeland—a much underserved but attractive market, said the Gonzalez family, owners of the eateries. “We know The Lake District is the perfect location for our next expansion.”
Frida’s has a midtown location on Madison Avenue and a Collierville location in the Carriage Crossing shopping mall. “The Express concept will provide the same great tastes and service recognized by many Memphians, with a focus on simplicity and creativity,” said Erik Gonzalez, executive chef.
“We are excited that Frida’s is bringing this concept to our project that—frankly is very flexible at this point in the dynamics of new construction,” said Maggie Gallagher, director of development for The Lake District.
“Our advantages of being new construction is that we are designing now for the future of retail. We know that safety and sanitization will be the way of the future and we can incorporate new structures and systems to enhance a customer’s safety while dining,” she said. “Social distancing will hopefully be something we don’t have to do forever, but we think our tenants should have the flexibility—if needed—to implement that,” said Mrs. Gallagher. Examples of this include larger outdoor dining areas.
The Lake District is currently under construction on Phase 1 of the 160-acre mixed use retail, entertainment and wellness community centered around a lake and to be anchored by more than 2,000 residents living in single and multi-family residences.
The Lake District is a golf-cart community—the first of its kind in the region, according to Mrs. Gallagher. The development features walking trails and outdoor spaces that encourage and invite residents, tenants and visitors to shop, dine, exercise and enjoy the many amenities it offers, she added. The development includes an anchor grocer, The Stock Market, as well as the new Malco Theatre.
Phase 1 is to open in spring 2021 at i-40 and Canada Road in Lakeland
For a complete list of tenants, visit www.TheLakeDistrict.us. For more information on Frida’s, visit www.fridasmemphis.com.
