Puebla Modern Mexican restaurant moving to former Finery space

ST. CHARLES – The departure of one Mexican restaurant on First Street in downtown St. Charles will make way for another Mexican restaurant in its place.

Puebla Modern Mexican restaurant, which opened its doors in 2013 at 51 S. 1st St., plans to move to the space at 305 W. Main St. in downtown St. Charles formerly occupied by The Finery and Blacksmith Bar, which recently closed.

In a letter to St. Charles Mayor Ray Rogina, Puebla Owner Tony Alfonso said his lease is up at his current location and that economic conditions are forcing him to move. The restaurant is set to close at its current location by the end of June.

"I plan on continuing being an upstanding and responsible business in downtown St. Charles," Alfonso said in a letter to St. Charles Mayor Ray Rogina. "My lease is up at my current location and the high rent and cost of doing business on First Street is no longer an option."

La Mesa Modern Mexican plans to move into Puebla Modern Mexican's space. La Mesa owner/manager Kimberly Lawson had been the operating manager of Puebla Modern Mexican restaurant for the past five years. Prior to that, she was a manager at Pizzeria Neo located next to Puebla Modern Mexican.

This would be her first business. The restaurant plans to open by mid-July.

According to the restaurant's business plan, La Mesa plans to feature a number of appetizers on its menu, such as Mexican shrimp cocktail and grilled wings with guajillo sauce along with a variety of tacos and other entrees, such as burritos, fajitas, chimichangas and skirt steak. La Mesa will also serve Mexican cocktails.

Puebla is a contemporary Mexican restaurant started by Alfonso.

"Puebla specializes in recreating the fiery and aromatic cuisine of Puebla, Mexico," states its website. "Although Puebla embraces the traditions of classic Mexican cooking, we add a fresh modern twist that kicks the natural flavors and intensity up a notch."

The restaurant will keep its existing hours at its new location – 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays.