A popular Mexican restaurant chain is set to open its first restaurant in Northern Ireland.
Tortilla, a California-style Mexican restaurant chain popular throughout the UK and internationally, has applied for planning permission to turn a former retail unit in Belfast's Cornmarket area into a new restaurant.
The proposal for the new unit at 9 Arthur Square is to establish a restaurant with 50 covers on the ground floor. The creation of Northern Ireland's first Tortilla restaurant will lead to around 20 new jobs at the site.
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Tortilla confirmed to Belfast Live that they are pursuing the city centre premises which requires the local authority to grant planning consent.
They added that they are excited about the opportunity to open up a branch in Belfast, with more information to come soon.
The unit at Arthur Square was last used as a pop-up location for Google, but has been vacant since October 2020. Prior to this, it was occupied by the Hotter shoe franchise.
9 Arthur Square is a ground floor unit measuring 1,486 square foot, and was on the market with Cushman & Wakefield.
Tortilla is the UK's largest fast-casual Mexican restaurant brand and was founded in October 2007 by Brandon and Jen Stephens.
Throughout the UK, the chain operates more than 50 sit-in and takeaway locations. Internationally, the restaurant brand operates in the Middle East, with 10 stores in Dubai and Saudi Arabia through an exclusive franchise partnership.
All fillings for Tortilla’s burritos, tacos and quesadillas are prepared in-house and toppings are prepared fresh daily, free from artificial flavours or preservatives.
In 2020, the brand served more than 4.4 million customers. It is headquartered in London and currently employs nearly 1,000 people.
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