TIFTON — Mexican restaurant Chapo’s Tequila and Grill recently celebrated their anniversary this past weekend, honoring more than half a decade and counting of their place within the Tiftarea community.

Owned by Cesar and Ernesto Alvarez, the restaurant provides patrons authentic Mexican cuisine in an inviting dining atmosphere, and is one of a pair with its other half serving the community of Loganville near Atlanta. The owners also operate locations of sister restaurant San Joe’s in Dawson and Albany.

Staff of the Tifton-based Chapo’s partnered with the local chamber of commerce to hold a ribbon cutting the morning of March 7 to commemorate their more than five years of service to the community, and the following day the community was in turn invited to join them for an all-day celebration in honor of the occasion.

Held in the parking lot at the front of the restaurant, the party brought together several local vendors, musical performances from a DJ and the Mood Doctors, and a variety of giveaways to both celebrate the five-year milestone and give back to the community that helped get them there.

“It truly has been a journey, but it has gone quickly,” said Denise Stempinski, general manager. “It’s amazing; the Tifton community is wonderful to do business in. Our guests have been fantastic.”

Stempinski additionally reported that, moving ahead, the owners of Chapo’s were looking into expanding to other communities, either with new locations of the restaurant or its sister business.