New Mexican restaurant now open in Warrenton

By Derrick Forsythe, Record Staff Writer

Posted 11/7/19

For one local business owner, opening his own restaurant had been a dream years in the making. Valentin Almanza-Parra worked as an assistant manager at Dos Primos in O’Fallon for the past 17 …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Attention subscribers

We have recently launched a new and improved website. To continue reading, you will need to either log into your subscriber account, or purchase a new subscription.

If you are a digital subscriber with an active subscription, or you are a print subscriber who had access to our previous wesbite, then you already have an account here. Just reset your password if you have not yet logged in to your account on this new site.

If the system cannot find your info, please call us at (636) 456-6397 or email recordclass@warrencountyrecord.com.

If you are a current print subscriber and did not have a user account on our previous website, you can set up a free website account by clicking here.

Otherwise, click here to view your options for subscribing.

New Mexican restaurant now open in Warrenton

Posted Thursday, November 7, 2019 4:26 pm

By Derrick Forsythe, Record Staff Writer

For one local business owner, opening his own restaurant had been a dream years in the making.Valentin Almanza-Parra worked as an assistant manager at Dos Primos in O’Fallon for the past 17 years. But he was eager to venture out on his own.When an opportunity to lease space in the former Warrenton Outlet Mall was presented, he consulted with his family.“We began praying and asking God about this back in February,” said Deanna Keehn, Almanza-Parra’s mother-in-law, also a partial owner.“We found out about Warrenton Outlet Center. We came out here and thought, let’s do it,” she said.La Mocha Mexican Restaurant opened its doors July 8.“It’s been a dream of his for a long time,” said Keehn. “He’s been in the states since he was 13, so he’s living the American dream.”The restaurant is actually named after the city of Mocha, where Almanza-Parra lived before moving to the United States from Mexico. He owns La Mocha along with his wife, Aimee, and Ashley Keehn.Deanna Keehn said the family is aware of the already existing presence of another Mexican restaurant in town, but felt the need was great enough to support two establishments.“We knew there was another Mexican restaurant, and we’ve eaten there before and enjoyed it,” she said. “We wanted ours to be a little different as far as decor, flavor and taste. We’ll probably be offering things throughout the year for holidays and events.”Keehn says she learned about the space from the owner of the Leftovers Furniture Store, located on the west end of the outlet mall.“We came out and talked with the new owner and were excited about the new interchange going across the interstate,” she said.La Mocha prides itself on its fajitas, tamales and margaritas. The restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Monday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

La Mocha Restaurant opened in the Warrenton Outlet Center on June 8. It's one of three new businesses involved in the revitalization of the outlet mall. Record photo/ Derrick Forsythe.

New Mexican restaurant now open in Warrenton

New Mexican restaurant now open in Warrenton

Kansas City woman faces felony drug charges after …

Truck driver seriously injured in Marthasville …

Warrenton soccer celebrates Senior Night in style

Wright City racks up stats in rolling to first win

New Mexican restaurant now open in Warrenton

Attention subscribers

Please log in to continue

Need an account?

Print and web subscribers

Online-only subscribers

Non-subscribers

New Mexican restaurant now open in Warrenton