Amigo opens at marina, 5th for Mexican chain in Chattanooga area

Fernando Gomez is general manager and co-owner of the new Amigos Mexican Restaurant that opened last week at the Island Cove Marina on the Chickamauga Lake along Highway 58.

Photo by John Rawlston.

• Name: Amigo Mexican Restaurant

• Location: Island Cove Marina, 6701 Highway 58

• Contact information: 423-710-8970, amigo restaurantonline.com

• Menu items: Mexican meals, drinks and desserts

• Price range: $4.99 to $13

• Age: Amigo opened its newest restaurant on Jan. 19, but the chain has been in the Chattanooga area for more than 16 years. The first location opened in East Ridge, which is now one of five in the area and 10 in Tennessee.

• Size: The new restaurant seats 300 people indoors, on its patio and has a 50-person banquet room.

• Target market: The family-oriented restaurant features high-definition TVs for sports fans. Managing partner Christian Cozak said his Island Cove site has seen better-than-expected turnout. "We just opened with a bang," he said.

• Biggest hurdle: Working out the kinks in the new location, making sure the staff is prepared and the equipment is running smoothly. "It's just getting to know the place, getting to know the area, getting to know the staff," Cozak said.

• Lesson learned: Expect the worst but hope for the best. When the recession hit in 2008, Amigo started to struggle. "We were afraid we would have to lay off a lot of our employees, but thank God we didn't have to," Cozak said. "We kept doing what we knew to do, just give good service, good food, keep the place clean and hope people would see that."

• Goals: To make sure his staff is fully trained. Cozak hopes eventually to add seafood to the menu because of the location's proximity to water.

-- Compiled by Carey O'Neil. If you know of a small business opening, contact reporter Carey O'Neil at coneil@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6525.