An area restaurant group will open a new location in a long-time empty building on a main entryway into Aurora.

El Jefe is due to open soon at 1271 N. Lake St. in a building that has housed several restaurants but has been shuttered for a while.

The restaurant is part of a family-owned, Mexican restaurant group that has six other locations, including ones in St. Charles, Batavia, Oswego, and Yorkville.

Restaurant officials have said the Aurora location will be completely different from the group’s other restaurants. An official told Aurora planning officials that the new concept is one the group is trying to establish for use in future locations too.

It will have room for 160 customers, and the parking lot next to it has 75 spaces, city officials said.

While the restaurant will have a liquor license, it will have a family friendly atmosphere, owners said.

“We have a fun and well-put-together plan,” a restaurant official told alderman during a recent City Council Committee of the Whole meeting.

Aldermen are set to vote on a Class E restaurant liquor license for the restaurant at the Tuesday City Council meeting. The restaurant had to apply for a special use to get the license because it is within 500 feet of a residence.

The building was probably best-known for housing Mayberry’s for many years, but it has been several other restaurants too, and for those it had liquor licenses.

Restaurant officials said they are putting finishing touches on the facility and will be opening soon.