Margaritas (restaurant)
Margaritas is the largest privately owned Mexican restaurant chain in New England. The proper name of the restaurant is "Tío Juan's Margaritas Mexican Restaurant", but it is most commonly referred to as "Margaritas".
The concept originated when several Chuck's Steakhouse locations owned and run by Kukai, Inc were converted to Mexican restaurants and renamed "Margaritaville" in the late 1970s and early '80s. John Pelletier, an employee and manager of Chuck's Steak House in Concord, New Hampshire, opened his own Mexican restaurant in Concord, calling it "Tio Juan's".
In 1987, John partnered with Stan Bagley and converted a small restaurant in Orono, Maine, into the first Margaritas Mexican Restaurant. The following year, John's brother Dave Pelletier joined the partnership. Together they opened a restaurant in Portland, Maine, in 1989.
In 1996, the owners formed Margaritas Management Group Inc. to oversee the operations of the restaurants. MMG is headquartered in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
In 1999, in order to unify a growing company, the Concord restaurant was officially renamed Margaritas Mexican Restaurant. In 2001, in order to trademark the company name and distinguish it from other similarly named Mexican restaurants across the country, the restaurants officially became "Tio Juan's Margaritas Mexican Restaurant".
The concept evolved considerably over the years, with the owners travelling regularly to Mexico to study the food, culture and decor. The visits to Mexico established the founders' love of and appreciation for the culture, and many strong business relationships and friendships formed with artists and furniture makers throughout the country.