Russell County's newest Mexican restaurant, Pueblo Viejo, is now open for business and calling Russell Springs their new hometown, according to the restaurant's management.

Co-managers Roberto Fuentes and Paul Campos said the new restaurant has been accepting customers for nearly two weeks and is gaining more and more business each day.

Fuentes said he and Campos came from Nashville, Tenn. to open up the business at 834 East Highway 80.

“We decided to come here about three years ago and open a Mexican restaurant,” Fuentes said. Fuentes' brother, Alejandro, owns La Tapatia in Russell Springs and helped to locate a place to open up.

“We like this place so we decided to open up here in this location,” he said. Fuentes said the busy traffic on Hwy. 80 made for a great spot at their current locale.

“We think we can do a good business here,” Fuentes said.

Fuentes said business has continued to increase since opening earlier this month.

“People say we have good food and they leave happy,” he said.

Fuentes also said his restaurant tries to do some things different than the other similar restaurants.

“We have a lot of different plates that many of the others do not have,” Fuentes said. “We try to make something different that people like.”

Fuentes said the community has been welcoming and kind thus far.

“We've only met good people,” he said. Fuentes and Campos said their employees put the customer first and make sure they leave happy.

The restaurant, which has nine employees, has a number of flatscreen televisions displayed as well, allowing customers to watch programs and sporting events while enjoying the authentic Mexican food offered.

Nearly 30 combination dinners are offered as well as fajitas, steak, seafood, pork, vegetarian combinations, salads, appetizers and desserts, among other specialties.

A lunch menu is also available every day from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. with nearly 20 options at reduced prices. Pueblo Viejo opens up at 11 a.m. daily and stays open until 9 p.m.