Wilmington Casa Blanca Aiming To Open In Second Half Of February

WILMINGTON, MA — The Wilmington Casa Blanca's management is aiming to open the restaurant in the third or fourth week of Feb., they told the Board of Selectmen Monday. The restaurant, which initially planned to open in 2018, received its common victualer and entertainment licenses at the meeting, allowing it to serve food and have music. The local Mexican chain already won a liquor license for the Wilmington location, at 207 Main Street, in July, 2018.

The chain has restaurants in Andover, North Billerica, North Andover, Haverhill, and Methuen. The Sept. 2018 Merrimack Valley gas explosions forced an initial delay, although the next planned opening was early last year. The common victualer license is required by the state before the restaurant can open.

"I think there are only four or five people in the community who haven't asked me when you guys are opening," said Board Chair Greg Bendel. "Everyone else is curious."

Wilmington's Casa Blanca will be the chain's sixth location. The space has been vacant since 2017, when Chili's closed after seven years in Wilmington.

According to General Manager Jorge Vargas, the restaurant will be open seven days a week, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or [email protected].