June 17, 2021

The first location that started the family-owned chain of Giliberto’s Mexican Taco Shops is moving.

But it’s just next door.

Giliberto’s, which opened in 2015 at 712 S. Minnesota Ave., has leased the former Wendy’s building, said Ana Coconi, whose family owns the restaurants.

Customers are excited that the new location will have a drive-thru, she said.

That’s the main reason for making the move, Coconi said, along with a bigger parking lot and kitchen.

Giliberto’s will take advantage of the extra room in the kitchen.

“We want to add more recipes,” said Coconi, whose family is from Guanajuato in central Mexico. “Because we are going to have a bigger kitchen, we’ll have different and better recipes.”

The new location will feature al pastor, a method of cooking meat on a trompo, or vertical rotisserie like those used to make gyros, Coconi said. The marinated, tender pork is used for street tacos, traditionally served with onion, pineapple and cilantro.

Once the city approves the building plans, the remodeling work is expected to take eight to 10 weeks, she said.

Giliberto’s has grown to three locations in Sioux Falls, and No. 10 in the chain is under construction in Mankato, Minnesota. It’s expected to open in late summer or early fall.