Restaurante El Quetzal celebrates second location in downtown Riverhead
A Guatemalan restaurant has expanded into the heart of downtown Riverhead.
Restaurante El Quetzal celebrated the grand opening of its second location at 300 E. Main St. on Monday, in the former Insatiable Eats space across from the Long Island Aquarium.
Owner Norma España, alongside family, friends, chamber representatives and state and town officials, raised a toast to the next chapter for her business.
Ms. España opened her first El Quetzal location at 1020 E. Main St. in 2021 while raising three children as a single mother. She always dreamed of one day taking her recipes beyond her kitchen at home and opening a restaurant of her own.
In the last five years, the Central American eatery gained significant popularity to fuel the need for a larger second spot. The new location serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and offers catering and space for special events.
“You’re investing in our community,” Marianna Garcia, director of the Riverhead Chamber of Commerce, told Ms. España. “We want to invest back in you.”
El Quetzal also received pledges of support from Long Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce President Luis Vazquez, Guatemalan Chamber of Commerce President Linda Vega, Assemblywoman Jodi Giglio, the Suffolk County Executive’s office, Riverhead Police Chief Ed Frost and Riverhead town officials.
Supervisor Jerry Halpin wished Ms. España and her staff future success at the new location.
“Food brings communities together, and you continue to solidify and absolutely identify the people in our community that come here and love you food, love this community,” Mr. Halpin said. “We hope that we can be supportive in any way possible.”
With Latino-owned businesses growing in Riverhead, Mr. Vazquez said the organization, which is based primarily in Nassau County, aims to empower and support Hispanic business owners on the East End of Long Island.
“The idea here is that we collaborate and make sure that all our organizations and Hispanic organizations get together, so we can bring whatever resources we have together with the officials on this end,” Mr. Vazquez, the LI Hispanic Chamber president, said. “I know it’s a lot of work, but we’re definitely going to do it, especially with a beautiful community you have here in Riverhead.”
El Quetzal Restaurant is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and weekends from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
