MIDDLESEX TWP — A new restaurant is planned for the Middlesex Crossing shopping districtp, and it came one step closer to existence when supervisors granted it a liquor license Wednesday night, June 18.

The new restaurant, Briquetas, will be owned by Benny Ulloa, who runs the Emiliano’s chain of four Mexican restaurants in Western Pennsylvania, including one in Cranberry Township, as well as two Mamacita’s Mexican Bistro locations in Adams Township and the McCandless section of Pittsburgh. Briquetas is planned to set up at the Middlesex Crossing development just off Route 8, next to an Anytime Fitness location.

According to Charles Caputo, an attorney specializing in alcoholic beverage law who was on hand to represent Briquetas at Wednesday’s meeting, the property on Adair Road was previously a restaurant.

“There is some restaurant stuff still there, but he will be doing some renovations,” Caputo said.

Briquetas came before the township supervisors to seek a liquor license, which would be transferred from another entity in Butler County. The liquor license will be transferred from W. Rick’s Taproom & Grill, the former restaurant in Connoquenessing Township that burned to the ground in February 2024.

Although the township granted the license transfer, Caputo says that is not the end of the process.

“Once the township approves the inter-municipal transfer, then they have to go to the Liquor Control Board and go through a process with them. It's an approximately three-month process with the Liquor Control Board,” Caputo said. “And then (Ulloa) would start his build-out.”

Caputo said Briquetas will be distinct from any of the prior restaurants, and serve a slightly different menu with a focus on Southern U.S. cuisine.

“This is going to be a different theme, different type of restaurant,” Caputo said. “There will be some Mexican, but there will be a focus on smoked Southern meats.”

Also present at Wednesday night’s meeting was the operator of the new location, Leo Espinoza, who is also the operator of Mamacita’s. Espinoza said he will be bringing his experience as general manager of a barbecue restaurant at his previous home in Chattanooga, Tenn., to Briquetas.

“Briquetas is mostly focused on true traditions … smoky brisket barbecue,” Espinoza said. “We’ll have brisket tacos, good fried chicken, and American cocktails. … We want to bring some good barbecue here. Maybe we can impress you here.”

Espinoza estimates that the restaurant would seat 18 to 24 at the bar, along with 120 to 145 people at the outdoor patio.