After 13 years of running Public House, restaurant owner Mason Wong reimagines the location at 16th and L streets as a colorful and festive space.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A downtown Sacramento restaurant is set to reopen under a new concept and transform into a colorful and festive space. 

Casa Lola, expected to host its soft opening Nov. 3 and grand opening Dec. 5, will offer a traditional Mexican menu and live mariachi entertainment. It will be open Sunday through Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to midnight.

The new concept will take over the former Public House space on 16th and L streets, which has been remodeled for the Mexican restaurant.  

Owner Mason Wong said the concept was inspired by his fiancée, Sylvia Moreno, who was born in Mexico.  Wong said she’ll manage front-of-house operations as a greeter and hostess.  

“She’s been wanting me to do a traditional Mexican restaurant for quite a while now,” Wong said. 

Public House announced its closure in the summer after 13 years of operation. Wong said he decided to shutter the longtime bar and grill as customer traffic slowed and competition increased among other beer-focused establishments in the area.

Instead of ceasing operations completely, Wong decided to bring a new concept to the building, giving him the opportunity to rebrand it as a Mexican restaurant.

Wong spent the past four to five months transforming the interior, bringing in bright colors, and commissioning murals painted by local artists.

“What we’re doing isn’t really modern, but it’s not too casual either — it’s somewhat elevated, but in a very comfortable, colorful way,” Wong said. 

Customers can expect traditional Mexican dishes such as pollo en mole, molcajete mixto, a shareable mix of grilled meats and seafood served in a hot volcanic rock mortar, and chimichanga de birria, a deep-fried chimichanga with birria beef and melted cheese.

“My chef has been a chef for over 20 years and he travels to Mexico City a lot,” Wong said. “We’ve done a lot of tastings over the course of the last six months and I think the flavors are pretty on point and very tasty.”  

The restaurant is reportedly fully staffed and currently training a majority-bilingual team. Wong said he anticipates many bilingual customers and hopes guests will visit for celebrations and special occasions.

“The atmosphere is going to be very festive,” Wong said.

WATCH MORE ON ABC10 | The Snug transforms into ‘The Black Lagoon’ | Take a Look

ABC10: Watch, Download, Read