Flandreau’s Mexican restaurant, Kiko’s, has purchased the former BJ’s Fine Foods & Spirits building, including its off-sale liquor license, from Bruce and Jeri Thoreson.
The restaurant will have more space and a drive-up window to sell breakfast burritos starting at 6 a.m., said Francisco Juarez, one of three owners of Kiko’s.
The restaurant opened mid-September on Wind Street in rented space that was formerly the Flandreau Cafe. BJ’s, which also has been closed, is just north of the current Kiko’s location.
“Flandreau needs something different,” Juarez said. Kiko’s other owners are Nitza Ruvenstein and German Hernandez.
In the new space, the team plans to serve breakfasts until 10 a.m., lunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and dinner until 9 p.m. It also will be open as a bar and off-sale liquor business, holding one of only two active off-sale licenses in town. Kiko’s has applied with the city for the transfer of the license with approval pending until the city council can consider the request.
Bean and Vine has an off-sale license but closes at 5 p.m., although owner Stacie Suedkamp will meet customers after hours by request. A third license is owned by Wind Street Bar, which is closed for business but opens occasionally to keep its on-sale license active.
The limited places to buy off-sale booze has caused complaints from citizens and other businesses and has meant more people left town to buy alcohol.
Juarez said Kiko’s will have enchilada and burrito lunch specials for $6.99 to $8.99.
Kiko’s owners are working inside the vacant business to clean it up and remodel it for their restaurant. An opening date is weeks away, they said.
Juarez said Kiko’s owners are appreciative of the Flandreau community and the customers who have come in to eat in the nearly five months since opening.
“They are so supportive. They support us so much. I’m proud to be here in Flandreau,” he said.
Juarez, who had worked in Minnesota for years, came to Flandreau last July after working at an event in Sioux Falls because he heard about the Royal River Casino and the need for other businesses. He was impressed and agreed to rent the vacant building where they first opened.
He, his partners and one of their daughters are the employees at Kiko’s. For Juarez, his job is in the kitchen cooking food. But everyone does what they need to do to run the business.
“It’s teamwork,” he said.
