The first restaurant in the Gainesville Renaissance development has been announced as Taqueria Tsunami, a Latin-Asian fusion offering a variety of dishes influenced by flavors from Far East and South of the border.
The restaurant will fill the ground-level space on the west corner of the development at the corner of Main and Spring Streets, according to a press release. The roughly 3,800-square-foot space will seat around 140 people with indoor and outdoor patio seating .
Taqueria Tsunami is owned by Chef Scott and Alexis Kinsey; the Gainesville location will be their fourteenth restaurant in Georgia. The menu features 13 hand-crafted tacos as well as a variety of bowls, salads, quesadillas, and appetizers. A drink menu offers a variety of margaritas, along with other signature cocktails and local craft beers.
The Kinseys co-own Marietta-based Fork U Concepts, LLC, a multi-brand restaurant company. Fork U Concepts is the parent company of restaurants Stockyard Burgers & Bones, Silla Del Toro and Forno Vero. The Kinseys opened their first Taqueria Tsunami ten years ago in Marietta.
“The experience we have obtained in this industry has provided us an unparalleled appreciation and understanding of the restaurant business,” said Alexis Kinsey. “We are so excited to be part of the development of Gainesville and believe the addition of Taqueria Tsunami will bring a unique offering to residents and become a local favorite amongst the other restaurants on the Square.”
The Kinseys each have experience working in various positions of a restaurant. They have also held corporate leadership roles with international restaurant chains in areas culinary, marketing and public relations.
The couple is also committed to civic engagement; a portion of their taco sales is donated to support the local Red Cross and disaster relief efforts.
“We have always said that we want unique and special offering in the Gainesville Renaissance building. Alexis and Scott bring just that to the Square," said Fred Roddy, developer for the Gainesville Renaissance project. “In the process of reviewing potential tenants, both Doug Ivester and I and our wives have gotten to know Alexis and Scott on a personal basis...we believe they are just right for Gainesville Renaissance."
The Gainesville Renaissance is a 60,000-square-foot mixed use development under construction in downtown Gainesville. Also referred to as "the fourth side of the square", the development features three levels with restaurant and retail space on the ground floor, Brenau University's Lynn J. Darby School of Psychology on the second floor and seven condominiums on the top floor.
In a previous interview, Roddy said the project would be finished in stages. The restaurant and retail space where Taqueria Tsunami will be located should be finished by late 2022.
