By KAYLEY FRANK

ANDERSON — Mayor Kris Ockomon cut the ribbon in front of the new Real Hacienda location Monday afternoon to the tune of the restaurant’s mariachi band — and after the cutting was complete, he celebrated with a quick version of the Mexican Hat Dance all his own.

The local Mexican restaurant invited Ockomon and other city employees to attend a grand opening ceremony of the restaurant’s second location on South Scatterfield Road.

“Everyone in Anderson thinks that Real Hacienda provides a really unique setting,” said Ockomon. “It’s exciting to see a local business expand.”

According to Antonio Barajas, who co-owns Real Hacienda with Juan Aguirre, the restaurant’s management had wanted to open a second location on the south side of town for some time, and the long-empty Chi-Chi’s building on Scatterfield provided a great opportunity for them.

“People on this side of town have wanted a Real Hacienda location here for awhile,” Barajas said. “For them, the downtown location was too far to drive to, especially for people who wanted to go there during their lunch hour.”

But though Barajas and Aguirre moved into a building that had already been designed as a restaurant, the two had much to do to get the building ready for business.

The restaurant’s interior looks very much like its downtown predecessor, with the same large, round tables, cozy booths and colorful painted chairs.

“We did a total redecoration,” Barajas said. “Most things came directly from Mexico. We really created a brand-new restaurant from what was here before.”

Additionally, the restaurant’s menu and offerings are identical to those of Real Hacienda’s downtown location, much to the delight of frequent patrons like Ockomon, whose favorite dish is the chicken fajitas. “When I come in, they don’t even bring me a menu anymore,” he said, laughing. “I hardly ever order anything else.”

And according to Ockomon, the opening of Real Hacienda’s second location represents the potential for local businesses in Anderson.

“It shows that we not only look for new businesses here in Anderson, but that we also look to support existing ones,” he said. “Clearly, the restaurant’s owners found enough support in Anderson’s residents to expand.”

Ockomon also said that the restaurant’s owners were “very strategic” in their decision to open the new eatery in that location. “I think they’ll do exceptionally well here, especially with the new casino at Hoosier Park nearby,” he said. “It’s a big development.”

Barajas said that he hopes that the second location will be as popular as Real Hacienda’s downtown site, but he knows that it’s not up to him. “The people will decide if it’s a success or not,” he said. “But we had a pretty good crowd today, and I’m excited about what’s in store.”