Area resident Manny Perez is no stranger to the restaurant business and will soon expand into downtown Prior Lake.

In the spring of 2026, he will be opening the doors to Chula’s, a Mexican-Latin restaurant that is to be built on Colorado Street. Perez said he has been working on the project for more than a year and has purchased the former T-Shirts & More building in recent months. That structure is scheduled to be demolished in late April, making way for the new eating establishment.

Perez said the restaurant will feature hand-crafted cocktails and scratch-made culinary dishes infused with Mexican and Latin flavors. He is confident customers will be telling others about their experience and “comida buena,” the Spanish phrase for “good food.”

For much of the last year, his daughter, Mercedes, along with Suzie Dahl, his significant other, have been working on the new operation’s design and marketing brand. Perez is quick to point out that the restaurant’s name was chosen in honor of his granddaughter, Sawyer. “Chula” is a term of endearment in Mexican culture. He hopes the new business will become a family legacy created for her and other generations to come in the future.

“We are beyond excited to begin this new adventure in Prior Lake,” Perez said. “Food is a way to bring people together. Family is at the core of everything we do.”

Perez has been in the restaurant business for 35 years and at one time owned 16 Subway franchises. In 2024, he was named the Small Business Administration’s Minnesota Minority-Owned Small Business of the Year. He currently owns and operates the Prior Lake Subway franchise along with three others.

“We promise our guests will experience great food with bold flavors in a lively atmosphere that can be found nowhere else in the area,” Perez said.

You can check here for updates on the restaurant’s progress.