Jose’s Tacos Is Expanding to Eastern Market This Summer

Five-year-old downtown Detroit taqueria Jose’s Tacos is expanding to a second outpost in Eastern Market this year, per a release. The restaurant has leased a space at 2518 Market St., an address previously occupied by hydroponics and garden supply store Cultivation Station.

Jose’s is owned by Guanajuato, Mexico, natives Jose and Leticia Orozco and their kids Luis, Laura, and Diana. Their new, full-service Eastern Market location will have roughly twice as many seats as the original, shoebox-sized eatery at 218 E Grand River Ave. in the Harmonie Park area. Jose’s is known for big platters of both fried and soft shell corn tacos, quesadillas, and burritos, but the family plans to add additional items to the menu at the new location such as fresh juices.

Developer Sanford Nelson’s Firm Real Estate owns the property that the Orozcos are leasing. Firm Real Estate has come under scrutiny in recent months for its dealings with businesses in the popular food neighborhood. Russell Street Deli recently announced it would close due to a dispute with Nelson over the restaurant’s rental agreement and building repairs. Nelson says in a statement that he’s been in talks with the Orozcos to expand to the market for the past six months and is excited to see the family “realize their dreams of expansion.”

“We never thought this would happen,” Luis Orozco says in a statement. “But we buy all our produce at the market, and people have been telling us forever we should open up a new spot since there aren’t any other Mexican restaurants there.”

Jose’s Tacos’ second restaurant is expected to open sometime this summer. Stay tuned for more updates.

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