AMADO, Ariz. — You can't miss the entrance of the Longhorn Grill and Saloon in Amado. It's been closed for seven years, but is now officially open for business.
"It should be open," said owner Greg Hansen. "We made the decision about a year ago that we were going to make a run at it. We bought it last September and we've been working on it for nine months."
In the years the building was empty, Hansen said it was neglected. There was a lot of rain damage and they had to rebuild the kitchen and other parts of the facility.
After months of work the restaurant started serving on May 29th. They offer breakfast, prime rib and of course dessert.
In a community where there aren't a ton of restaurant options, Hansen says they were able to employ about 55 people. He also owns the Twist and Shout 50's Diner and the 19th hole Bar and Grille in Green Valley.
The iconic skull at the entrance has been featured in movies and is a frequent stop for pictures. Hansen says they bleached it because it had started to deteriorate.
"I mean it's a piece of Southern Arizona and now that piece is alive again," Hansen said. "So we're excited."
The restaurant also has a bar. It's located at 28851 S. Nogales Highway.
Breakfast is served from 6 a.m. until 11 a.m. Monday through Friday, and 6 a.m. to noon on Saturday and Sunday. Lunch is served from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and dinner service starts at 3 p.m.
