It’s been several months since the El Buen Gusto Salvadorian restaurant closed in downtown Perry, and recently a new business took up residence there, opening for business last Saturday.

Melania Hernandez is the owner and operator of La Pasadita Mexican restaurant, which is located at the corner of Lucinda and 2nd streets. Hernandez also owns an eatery in Des Moines, but wanted to see if she could make a restaurant work in the growing Perry downtown. The former Salvadorian restaurant closed in March because its owners, Carlos and Edith Barco, were required to return to Guatemala. Their youngest daughter, Marisa, is a U.S. Citizen and stayed behind, tasked with helping to find buyers for the building.

Marisa said at the time, even when her parents are allowed to return to the United States which could take several more years, it was unlikely they would try to reopen a restaurant. La Pasadita now fills that niche in the Barcos’s stead, and many in the Perry community are excited to give the new business a try.