Downtown Cantina opens in downtown Albemarle

Published 2:41 pm Tuesday, November 4, 2025

ALBEMARLE — The newest restaurant in downtown Albemarle has opened its doors to the public.

Following a soft launch earlier this month, Downtown Cantina is officially up and running after a grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony on Tuesday morning hosted by the Stanly County Chamber of Commerce.

The Mexican restaurant at 114 W. Main St. is open 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday; the menu specializes in build-your-own burritos, bowls, nachos and salads, as well as quesadillas, authentic dishes, desserts and cocktails.

Owner Luis Luna, who also owns Jalapenos in Albemarle (located at 1416 US Hwy 52 N), said that he wanted to try a different concept with Downtown Cantina.

“It’s a quick service so you can come in and out in literally about five minutes,” Luna said. “You come in and you build your bowls and burritos, so it’s kind of like a Chipotle where you can pick your meat, pick rice, beans and whatever toppings you want to put in.”

He explained that he envisions a spot where local customers, downtown Albemarle workers and visitors can come and order their food on the go in an expedited process that won’t cost them much time.

Luna previously opened a restaurant in Kentucky where he was able to test out the menu ideas that he’s instilled into Downtown Cantina.

“I wanted to see the things that work out, the things that don’t and the special equipment. It’s a whole different concept with the way you prep food as far as amounts. I didn’t want to come here not knowing exactly what to expect. Of course, it’s not going to be the same because the crowd is going to be different, but it helped with the basics.”

Beyond the customized orders, Luna said that customers will be able to try out different creations that vary from items offered at typical Mexican restaurants.

“Our menu has a good variety. We have a few traditional plates, but then we have stuff like fajitas, southwest egg rolls, burritos with steak and french fries, and loaded french fries. We’ll also have a lot of flavored margaritas with blackberry, pineapple, strawberry, peach, mango and more.”

Downtown Cantina is located at the historic Heath Building, where the construction firm Hemco did a comprehensive renovation of the facilities over the past year, aiming to restore the structure while upgrading it for modern commercial use.

With reinforcements, new electrical and HVAC systems and a refurbished lobby, the building was transformed into the restaurant with added upstairs office space.

“The food is outstanding, and it’s great to see Luis and his team doing what they do best,” Hemco said in a statement. “We’re incredibly proud to have served as the general contractor on this restoration and upfit project — another beautiful example of preserving history while bringing new life to downtown.”

According to the Stanly County Chamber, several office suites are now available for rent upstairs.