An authentic Mexican restaurant, the first in downtown Wayland in more than 25 years, is scheduled to open for takeout only this weekend.

“Salsa Por Favor,” which is Spanish for “Salsa, Please,” will open for business at the building on North Main that 75 years ago was Brooks Hardware. It most recently housed “Cindi’s Boutique.”

Wayland has restaurants that serve Mexican dishes, but co-owner Maria Cochran, a native of Mexico, promises her eatery will feature a menu with the real deal.

“It will be as authentic as can be, like tacos with cilantro and onions,” she said. We are originally from Mexico and we are very excited to share our culture with our food.”

She said the opening will be next weekend potentially, depending the last health department inspection’s results Monday, Jan. 4.

Cochran said she is launching this restaurant with eyes wide open about the state of the economy and threat of Covid-19.

“We definitely have a challenge with Covid,” she acknowledged. “But we’ve had this plan for many years and life is full of challenges, but if you don’t take chances you get stuck. We hope for success and our main goal is to bring delicious authentic food to the area.”

When things get back to normal, Cochran said there will be parking in back of the building and she wants it to be a full menu, sit-down restaurant.

Just one building north of Salsa Por Favor on North Main Street was where Rosita’s Restaurant opened in the early 1990s, and it was reported to have done a brisk business, but it was sold after a dispute with the city about use of the upstairs.

Cochran said starting next weekend, customers can call 1-(269) 397-1550 to order takeout.

COVER PHOTO: Maria Cochran (second from right) and her family this past Christmas.