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By Ayanna Eckblad

WELLS — Today the Wells community welcomes new business Loma Azul Mexican Restaurant to the city. The owners of the business, brothers Eduardo and José Barajas, said they have been planning to open a restaurant for years and are excited their dream is being fulfilled.

Eduardo explained that the restaurant will have a unique approach to ordering food.

“We’re not like a fast food restaurant, but we’re not like a sit-down restaurant; we’re right in the middle,” he said.

At Loma Azul, customers will order their food and get fountain drinks at the front counter of the restaurant. Afterwards, they can sit down at one of the tables, where Eduardo, José or another employee will bring them their food as well as any alcoholic beverages they ordered. Restaurant staff will also clear dishes from tables after customers are finished eating.

The Barajas brothers have 10 years of experience working in food service in Albert Lea. They have previously worked at Plaza Morena, Taco King and most recently, 1910 Fresh. They said having been an employee all their life, they are both excited for the opportunity to have their own business.

The idea to open a restaurant in Wells came about seven years ago when Eduardo and José said they realized the town did not have any place for people to get Mexican food. They began making plans to open a Mexican restaurant but did not have the opportunity to do so until recently.

About a year ago, Eduardo said, he spoke to the Wells Area Chamber of Commerce to ask about available space to house the restaurant in. He was able to get connected to the landlord who owns the building that was previously Wildcats Bar & Grill.

Because the building needed a lot of work, the landlord gave Eduardo and José permission to remodel anything in the building they wanted to. Over the next six months, the brothers used their time off renovating the restaurant by putting in new flooring, painting the walls and other refurbishing projects.

The restaurant’s name, as well as general design, was inspired by Eduardo and José’s past. “Loma azul” means blue hill, Eduardo explained. He and José are originally from Jalisco, a state in Mexico. He said it is the No. 1 state for tequila, which is made from the blue agave plant.

“All you see when you’re driving on the roads in Jalisco is … the blue hills because they’ve got the plants for the tequila,” he said.

The name also comes from their father’s business, Loma Azul Taco Shop, which started as a small taco stand and eventually grew.

Eduardo and José are both excited to be doing what they love. Eduardo said he enjoys working with people, and has always been exposed to customer service from his own jobs or his parents’ all his life. José said he is quieter than his brother, but loves working in the kitchen.

“We’re a team,” Eduardo said.

They also said they have received a lot of positive feedback from the Wells community.

“The people are super excited. Super nice people here in town,” José said.

Loma Azul Mexican Restaurant is at 34 First St. SE in downtown Wells. It will open with a ribbon cutting ceremony by the Wells Area Chamber of Commerce at 10:30 a.m. today. Regular business hours will be 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday.

Eduardo said alcoholic beverages will not be served at the restaurant until next week.