Restaurant opens in Clintonville
By Erik Buchinger
A new taco restaurant is open for business in Clintonville.
King’s Rock ‘N’ Tacos opened Saturday, Jan. 7 at 281 S. Main St., replacing a Mobil Gas Station in Clintonville.
Clintonville resident Preston Lorge said the demand for a taco place was enough of a reason to start a new restaurant.
“I always was always sick of driving to New London or Shawano, so I figured why not start one up?” Lorge said.
When Lorge had just begun to get the restaurant started up in August, he met Sara Jandrin, who runs the restaurant with him.
“People always say it’s about time we get a taco joint in Clintonville,” Jandrin said.
Lorge said the reason for the name of the business is because of his admiration for Elvis Presley, whose pictures and stories are present on the restaurant walls.
“I wanted to do an Elvis theme,” Lorge said. “It’s something that’s fun and will get people’s attention while they wait. I grew up with Elvis, and when I don’t have a hat on, I do my hair a little bit like him. It just came to me – King’s Rock ‘N’ Tacos.”
The restaurant is open six days a week Tuesday-Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. till 11 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. It is closed on Mondays.
“We try to stay open later than most places, and we get business right up until 11 especially on weekends,” Lorge said.
One of the restaurant’s biggest hits so far has been the King Supreme Burrito, Lorge said, and it offers a delivery service with a minimum $20 order within the Clintonville city limits.
Lorge’s first cousin owns Big Sal & Cheesy’s bar and restaurant in Clintonville, and he has offered Lorge a few pointers of running a restaurant, which can be big workload, Lorge said.
“It’s going good so far,” Lorge said. “It’s a little bit more work than I thought it might be. We’ve had a few bumps in the road, but it’s going pretty good.”
During the summer months, Lorge said he hopes to provide more entertainment, including occasional live bands at the restaurant to attract more customers.