Viva Las Arepas Sets Timetable for Westside Expansion

If you are a fan of chef Felix Arellano's Venezuelan dishes, you'll have two more menus to try within a few short weeks.

A downtown favorite since 2013, back in June a second, under construction Viva Las Arepas location was confirmed for the Mercado Del Sol Shopping Plaza, at the southeast corner of Rainbow and Charleston. Arellano has now revealed via Facebook he wants to open those doors "around the first week of October."

The corner space provides much more parking opportunities than their Las Vegas Boulevard and Oakey Boulevard original home and are surrounded by no close dining rivals.

In 2011, Viva Las Arepas debuted a menu of cornmeal patties, arepas and wood-fired chicken, beef and pork at a stand in the parking lot of Dino's Lounge. Now, Arellano is headed back to that exact same small space for another new venture, Pepito Shack, which new signage already proclaims is "World Famous."

Aiming for an end of August debut, the appropriately named shack will serve "gourmet burgers & dogs," plus their namesake pepitos, a traditional Mexican and Venezuelan street food, similar to a torta sandwich and infused with the mesquite grilled flavors found at their casual restaurant a short walk away.

The shack takes over from The Goodwich and short-lived follow-up TBD, which chose not to renew the lease.