Mexican eatery slated to open in July

The empty former gas station and cheese store at the corner of Main Street and Highway LL in Belgium is expected to be filled with multiple businesses in weeks.

A Mexican restaurant called Luna’s Taqueria is scheduled to open in July.

Juan Olvera of Sheboygan, a native of Mexico who has lived in the United States since he was 7, is the owner of the restaurant. He will focus on tacos and burritos.

“It’s not going to be a big menu,” he said.

Luna’s Taqueria plans to apply for a reserve liquor license for $10,000 in July.

Seating and arcade games from the late 1980s and 1990s will fill in the old cheese store and the former gas station’s mini-mart.

“We just want to have a fun environment. People go out to eat to have a good time,” Olvera said.

Besides the restaurant, plans are to open a gas station, Hispanic grocery store, U-Haul dealership and drive-through for Cedar Crest ice cream.

The building used to house a McDonald’s and most recently a cheese store, which closed in 2016, building manager Sukhdev Gill said. The gas station closed last year.

Belgium Area Chamber of Commerce President Annie Noster said she is happy to see a business open and fill an existing space off of I-43.

“A Mexican restaurant will be a great addition to the Village of Belgium. It is always great to fill an empty store front in any village,” she said.

“We are happy the owner, Juan, chose Belgium to open his business.  The location of this restaurant is near the freeway exit.  It is nice to have one more attraction to encourage visitors to our village.”