Longtime Spokane restaurateur Cyrus Vaughn has developed a new Mexican restaurant concept called Jose Arribas and plans to open the first such eatery on Spokanes North Side.


Vaughn says the restaurant company he formed to operate Jose Arribas, Mexican Fresh LLC, has leased 4,300 square feet of space in the Shadle Center, at 2503 W. Wellesley, for the 100-seat establishment, which is scheduled to open in two weeks.


Mexican Fresh has hired two managers and is starting to hire workers. The restaurant will employ a total of 50 people, Vaughn estimates.


Meanwhile, he says he is looking for a location in Spokane Valley for a second Jose Arribas. He hopes to find a site and have that eatery up and running by year-end.


Then Ill probably go to Seattle with it, Vaughn says.


Jose Arribas will be a fast-casual restaurant with an open kitchen where customers orders are prepared in front of them in an assembly-line format. Menu items will include tacos, burritos, enchiladas, and quesadillas.


The concept is similar to one used at Qdoba Fresh Mexican Grill, which has two restaurants in Spokane, and at two national chains that dont have eateries in the Spokane marketRubios Fresh Mexican Grill and Baja Fresh Mexican Grill, Vaughn says.


This is a niche Ive been looking at for three or four years, he says.


Vaughn has developed and put into play more than 20 restaurant concepts in the Spokane-Coeur dAlene area over the past 30-plus years, many of which still are operating, including Cyrus OLearys, Tomato Street, and Rocky Rococo. He has sold his interest in most of the restaurants he started, but maintains an interest in five Arbys restaurants in the Spokane area, a Tomato Street restaurant in Coeur dAlene, and Spokane-based Fresh Food Corp. of America, which makes Cyrus OLearys Pies.