The owners of Mexican restaurants in Murrysville and in Downtown Pittsburgh anticipate opening a similar restaurant this fall in North Huntingdon, an Excela Health spokeswoman said.

David and Virginia Montanez, who own Madero Cantina on William Penn Highway and Las Velas in Pittsburgh, won approval recently from North Huntingdon officials to transfer a liquor license from Salem Township to a site at Norwin Hills Shopping Center, which is owned by Greensburg-based Excela Health.

Township commissioners approved the request from Isano II Inc. to transfer the restaurant liquor license from The Pines, a tavern that closed on Trees Mills Road, to 8865 Norwin Ave. that Atria’s-Norwin occupied. The liquor license, under the ownership of Alexander Orlowski, is in “safekeeping,” according to the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board.

Excela Health has been told the restaurant is expected to open in early fall, said Robin Jennings, an Excela Health spokeswoman.

Isano owns the restaurant liquor license used by Madero Cantina in Murrysville, according to the LCB website. David Montanez is listed as the president of Isano Inc. and his wife, Virginia Montanez, is listed as the manager, vice president and secretary-director. David Montanez has served as the chef at Madero Cantina, according to a 2017 story in the Tribune-Review.

The couple could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

Atria’s had opened a restaurant at the location in April 2017, but did not last long. Pat McDonnell, CEO of Restaurant Holdings, which owns the Atria’s chain of restaurant, could not be reached for comment.

The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board still must approve the transfer.

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