El Tesoro will open an 8,600-square-foot restaurant at the Lee + White development in Atlanta's West End in March 2026, marking a significant expansion from its current operation within the Wild Heaven Brewing facility. The new location in the 1036 Building will feature the restaurant's full menu, a large bar, indoor and outdoor seating, and big-screen TVs for sporting events, creating a casual yet elevated dining experience beyond a standard taqueria.
This expansion represents El Tesoro's third full-service Atlanta restaurant, joining the original Edgewood location at 1374 Arkwright Place and a recently announced 3,640-square-foot location in the South Downtown development at 171 Mitchell Street scheduled to open in spring 2026. Alan Raines, owner of El Tesoro, stated that the move provides growth opportunities and flexibility to host meetings, activities, weddings, and serve as a gathering place for the West End neighborhood and events.
The lease transaction was handled by Marisa Roy and Patrick Green of Ackerman Retail, representing owners Ackerman & Co. and MDH Partners. Leo Wiener, President of Ackerman Retail, noted that El Tesoro's growth benefits both Lee + White and the West End neighborhood by adding energy and dining options to the vibrant district.
In related developments, Wild Heaven Beer has purchased the Eats restaurant brand and plans to open it in March within the Wild Heaven tap room space previously occupied by El Tesoro. The 442,562-square-foot Lee + White mixed-use development, acquired by Ackerman & Co. and MDH Partners in 2019, represents an adaptive reuse transformation of the West End's former Warehouse Row with Atlanta BeltLine frontage. Recent additions include a food hall with 16 eateries, creative office space, healthcare providers, trade schools, retail, and the "Great Lawn" central gathering space.
Accessibility remains a key feature of Lee + White, with proximity to the West End MARTA rail station, Atlanta's interstates, and future access via the planned MARTA station at Murphy Crossing via the Atlanta Westside BeltLine. Current leasing opportunities include one 3,990-square-foot full-service restaurant space and one food stall in the food hall, which features diverse concepts such as Cielito Lindo, Costa Coffee, and Gekko Hibachi & Sushi. For more information about the development, visit https://www.leeandwhiteatl.com.
The expansion reflects broader trends in Atlanta's dining and development landscape, where adaptive reuse projects like Lee + White are revitalizing neighborhoods while preserving historical character. El Tesoro's growth from a single location to three full-service restaurants within a few years demonstrates the demand for authentic Mexican cuisine and community-focused dining experiences in evolving urban districts.
