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By Carey Reeder | Managing Editor

Valle Grande Mexican Grill is opening its third location in Clanton after an announcement inside the Clanton City Hall on July 12. The Mexican restaurant and the city of Clanton received a $250,000 community development block grant from Gov. Kay Ivey and the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs to assist in the project of converting the Wright Building at 405 U.S. Highway 31 to the third Valle Grande location. Valle Grande has locations in Maplesville and Valley Grande in Dallas County.

“Clanton continues to see enhancements to its quality of life from the resurfacing of I-65 within the city limits to economic development projects to revitalize the historic downtown area,” Ivey said in a press release. “I am pleased to award this grant which will breathe new life into this local landmark while ushering in more jobs.”

The grant comes from funds made available by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

“Restaurants are essential elements to attracting people to downtowns,” ADECA director Kenneth Boswell said in a press release. “I commend Clanton leaders for making wise use of a city-owned building and helping to increase commerce in the city.”

The new restaurant is expected to seat 409 people and will feature an event section for larger parties, an outdoor patio section and a bar. Valle Grande owner Sergio Sanchez is also buying a small strip of land right beside the lot, and the city is tearing down C&J Tire and Auto, which it owns. That will allow the new restaurant to stretch from the intersection of U.S. Highway 31 and 4th Avenue North to the J&W Communications building. The lot will feature a large parking lot as well to accommodate the crowds.

“When we bought that (building) up there we were just trying to clean up some stuff, and people kept asking if we would tear it down,” Clanton Mayor Jeff Mims said. “We did not want to tear it down, and wanted to wait to see what we could get in it. There it is. This is going to be a huge restaurant. Sergio is a good guy, and he likes to do a lot for the community and that is what we need around here.”

Mims said knowing Boswell as well as he does is a great asset to have when the city of Clanton applies for grants with ADECA. Boswell and the other ADECA representatives commented on July 12 about how much Clanton has grown within the last five to 10 years.

“I thank Governor Ivey for doing this,” Mims said. “What I have learned about the state and her is that if they see people doing something for themselves, they will help you. We are fortunate we are making this revenue to help us pay the matching funds.”

Construction on the Wright Building in preparation for Valle Grande Mexican Grill is expected to begin in the coming weeks.