Gran Rey Mexican Grill opens for business | News, Sports, Jobs

Mariachi Rey Azteca play a song during the grand opening of Gran Rey Mexican Grill in Marietta on Monday. (Photo by Michelle Dillon)

A new restaurant had its official grand opening Monday evening.

Gran Rey Mexican Grill at 823 Pike St., Marietta, held a ribbon cutting and grand opening ceremony Monday evening.

Marietta-Washingotn Convention & Visitors Bureau Executive Director Deana Clark welcomed attendees to the ceremony.

“We’re so excited about having this restaurant and bar here in Marietta,” she said “It adds so much to our tourism base and we just really appreciate the fact that you guys are here.”

Mayor Josh Schlicher also participated in the ceremony saying that he and his family had eaten at the restaurant many times since it had opened.

“It’s a pleasure to be here on the grand opening of Gran Rey,” Schlicher said.

Gran Rey General Manager Joel Ortiz thanked everyone for coming to the ceremony, then he cut a blue ribbon signifying the official opening of Gran Rey Mexican Grill.

A mariachi band from Virginia, Mariachi Rey Azteca, played at the ceremony and in the restaurant afterwards, performing such songs as “Un Poco Loco” from the movie “Coco” and “Mexican Hat Dance.”

There were drink and food specials to mark the grand opening as well.

Ortiz said the restaurant opened on Jan. 2, but waited until Monday to have its grand opening because they wanted a mariachi band to play and that is when the band was available.

He said since the restaurant has opened the flow of customers during the week is steady and the weekends have been pretty busy.

According to Ortiz, Gran Rey Mexican Grill is owned by Raul Maria Muños, who also owns

El Tenampa Mexican Restaurant in Athens and Gran Azteca Mexican Bar & Grill in Parkersburg.

The owner of Gran Rey decided to open the restaurant in Marietta because there are a lot of small towns around Maritta and “we just thought it was a good idea to try it out,” Ortiz said.

Ortiz said Gran Rey Mexican Grill has added a bunch of burritos that you do not see at a lot of Mexican restaurants and they have a lot more street tacos than other Mexican restaurants.

“We have a lot of different dishes on the menu,” he said.

Gran Rey Mexican Grill took over an old Ryan’s and they are planning to expand into the other side of the building. They want to rent the space out to big groups for parties and they are working on getting it ready for that. They are thinking about what else to do with the extra space, Ortz said.

Gran Rey Mexican Grill is open Monday-Thursday 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.- 10:30 p.m., and Sunday 11 a.m.-9 p.m., according to their website. To learn more about the Gran Rey and its menu visit https://granreymexican.com/ or call 740-373-4858.

Michelle Dillon can be reached at mdillon@newsandsentinel.com