ATLANTA, GA — El Tesoro has announced plans to open an 8,600-square-foot restaurant in the 1036 Building at Lee + White, a bustling adaptive reuse development in Atlanta's West End. The new outpost, which will feature a large bar, indoor and outdoor seating, and big-screen TVs for sporting events, is scheduled to open in March 2026. Currently operating within Wild Heaven Brewing, El Tesoro will relocate to a permanent space previously occupied by Best End Brewing.
Marisa Roy and Patrick Green of Ackerman Retail represented owners Ackerman & Co. and MDH Partners in the lease transaction. This expansion will give El Tesoro three full-service restaurants in Atlanta, joining its original Edgewood location at 1374 Arkwright Place and a recently announced 3,640-square-foot location in South Downtown at 171 Mitchell Street, set to open in spring 2026.
“We've been very successful in our collaboration with Wild Heaven West End, with so much goodwill from the local residents, and now we are both ready for the next phase,” said Alan Raines, owner of El Tesoro. “We're excited to expand into a permanent space at Lee + White that gives us the opportunity to grow for years to come. It almost seemed like more space than we need right now, but zooming out into the future, we'll have the flexibility to host a wide range of meetings, activities and even weddings, as well as be a gathering place for the West End neighborhood, sporting and other events.”
The new Lee + White location aims for a casual but slightly elevated experience, expanding beyond the standard taqueria. Guests can expect family recipe favorites including tacos, burritos, tamales, and mulitas, along with fresh juice margaritas and a deep mezcal program. “El Tesoro has become a go-to stop for authentic Mexican food, and their growth is great news for Lee + White and the West End neighborhood,” said Leo Wiener, President of Ackerman Retail. “We're looking forward to their expansion bringing even more energy to Lee + White while giving visitors another option for hanging out, eating great food and enjoying this vibrant district.”
In related news, Wild Heaven Beer has announced that Eats, a popular meat-and-three restaurant that closed its Ponce de Leon location in October, will replace El Tesoro within the Wild Heaven tap room. Wild Heaven has purchased the Eats restaurant brand and is targeting a March opening as well.
Acquired by Ackerman & Co. and MDH Partners in 2019, the 442,562-square-foot Lee + White mixed-use development is an adaptive reuse transformation of the West End's former Warehouse row, featuring one-half mile of Atlanta BeltLine frontage and four direct entrances to the popular mixed-use trail. The latest phase has added a food hall, creative office space, healthcare providers, trade schools, new retail, and the “Great Lawn” central gathering space. Lee + White is accessible via the nearby West End MARTA rail station and all of Atlanta's interstates. A planned MARTA station at Murphy Crossing will be a short walk away via the Atlanta Westside BeltLine.
One full-service restaurant space of 3,990 square feet and one food stall remain available for lease in the food hall. The current lineup includes 16 eateries along with the Strangers in Paradise central bar, featuring concepts such as Cielito Lindo, Costa Coffee, Dough Boy Pizza, GoodAzz Burgers, and Vietvana. For more information, visit leeandwhiteatl.com.
