Tela Latin Grill Will Open Second Location
The restaurant is expanding to Butler Plaza by early December 2026.
Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in Openings & Closings
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Tela Latin Grill will open its second Gainesville location in Butler Plaza by early December 2026. This new site features a larger kitchen to support the business's growth.
Why it matters
The owners aim to improve accessibility for local residents and solve parking issues common near the university. By moving into a commercial hub, the founders hope to stabilize business volume throughout the entire year.
Founders Felipe Mayen and Gerhard Matamoros are expanding their two-year-old business to a new restaurant footprint in Butler Plaza. This second location will feature a larger kitchen capacity compared to their original storefront.
The players
Felipe Mayen
He is one of the two founders of Tela Latin Grill.
Gerhard Matamoros
He is a co-founder of the restaurant group.
The details
The new restaurant will be located in Butler Plaza adjacent to Dave's Hot Chicken. The founders, who built the decor for their first site by hand, learned their culinary techniques while working with a relative who operated a food cart.
Timeline
The original restaurant opened on University Avenue in 2024.
The new restaurant is scheduled to open in early December 2026.
Market Landscape
This move reflects a broader trend of independent Gainesville restaurants shifting away from campus-dependent areas to reach more consistent local traffic. It positions the brand to compete for year-round diners against national chains in major shopping centers.
Residents can expect improved accessibility and more convenient parking compared to the current University Avenue location. The larger kitchen space is intended to facilitate faster service for customers visiting the new Butler Plaza site.
The takeaway
Small business owners seeking consistent growth often target high-traffic commercial centers to ensure success outside of peak student seasons. This strategic relocation emphasizes the importance of infrastructure, such as parking, in the longevity of local restaurants.
Further reading
For more information on the local food scene, see our Gainesville Openings & Closings.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Independent Florida Alligator.
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