El Tesoro to Open 8,600 SF Restaurant at Lee + White

January 9, 2026

El Tesoro to Open 8,600 SF Restaurant at Lee + White

Popular Mexican eatery to move from collaboration service location at Wild Heaven Beer into full-scale restaurant space with bar and outdoor seating

ATLANTA - JANUARY 9, 2026 - El Tesoro has announced that it will expand its footprint at Lee + White, moving into an 8,600-square-foot space in the 1036 Building in the heart of the bustling adaptive reuse development in Atlanta's West End. El Tesoro, currently operating within the Wild Heaven Brewing facility, will establish a new outpost location, featuring all the food favorites, a large bar, indoor and outdoor seating, and big-screen TVs for sporting events.

El Tesoro plans to open its new space in Lee + White in March. Marisa Roy and Patrick Green of Ackerman Retail represented owners Ackerman & Co. and MDH Partners in the lease transaction.

With its expansion into the 1036 Building, previously occupied by Best End Brewing, El Tesoro will have three full-service restaurants operating in Atlanta, joining the original Edgewood location at 1374 Arkwright Place that serves 175 guests and a recently announced 3,640-square-foot location in the South Downtown development at 171 Mitchell Street scheduled to open in spring of 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."

Like the upcoming location in South Downtown, El Tesoro's new Lee + White space aims for a casual but slightly elevated experience, expanding beyond the standard taqueria. Guests can expect the same family recipe favorites on the menu - including tacos, burritos, tamales and mulitas, as well as the famous fresh juice margaritas and deep mezcal program. There will also be an outdoor patio along the Atlanta Westside BeltLine, as well as outdoor seating facing White Street.

"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.

If you have any questions about El Tesoro's upcoming move, contact owner Alan Raines at [email protected]

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 of development at Lee + White has added a food hall, creative office space, healthcare providers, trade schools, new retail, and the "Great Lawn" central gathering and event 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 from Lee + White via the Atlanta Westside BeltLine.

One full-service restaurant space of 3,990 square feet and one food stall are available for lease in the food hall. The lineup includes 16 eateries along with the Strangers in Paradise central bar, offering a mix of local and regional concepts. Eateries include Cielito Lindo, Costa Coffee, Crème de la Crepe, Dough Boy Pizza, GoodAzz Burgers, Gekko Hibachi & Sushi, gusto!, Honeysuckle Gelato, One Korean Bistro, The Original Hot Dog Factory, Sakura Sake Bar & Bottles, Sweet Red Peach, Vietvana, West Side Deli and World Chicken.

About El Tesoro

El Tesoro translated is "the treasure." We started El Tesoro in Edgewood over 5 years ago, with a focus on offering quality food at reasonable prices. Since then, our little taqueria has grown from a 14 seat, counter-service spot, to multiple patios seating over 175 people. We offer food, a full bar, a 7,000-square-foot patio, games for the kids and plenty of time to just get away and enjoy tacos and margaritas. El Tesoro will soon open two more full-service restaurants, one an 8,600-square-foot location at Lee + White (a relocation and expansion from a counter-service collaborative location in the popular mixed-use development) and a 3,640-square-foot location in the South Downtown Atlanta redevelopment.

About Lee + White
Reimagining the West End's former "Warehouse Row," the 442,562-square-foot Lee + White is energizing the historic South Atlanta neighborhood with a bold, adaptive reuse transformation. Building on the success of the popular breweries and entertainment spots introduced in the first phase, co-owners Ackerman & Co. and MDH Partners have diversified the development's offerings, adding creative offices, a food hall, unique retail and expanded BeltLine access.

This transformation continues in a spirit that recognizes the West End's rich history, while creating a gathering place for the community and a hub for business. The growing roster at Lee + White includes ASW Exchange, Beya Salon Studios, Boxcar, Carbice, Cultured South, Grady Health System, Honeysuckle Gelato, Hop City, JTEC Energy, KIPP Atlanta Schools, Keller Williams, Monday Night Garage, The Overlook Boulder + Fitness, Plywood People, Triumph Motorcycles, Utility Energy Services, Westside Dental and Wild Heaven Beer. Eateries at the Lee + White food hall showcase a mix of local favorites and regional and national concepts. For more information, visit https://www.leeandwhiteatl.com

About MDH Partners MDH Partners is an Atlanta-based real estate investment company managing its discretionary funds targeting industrial real estate across the United States on behalf of its institutional investors. Founded in 2005 as the successor to a fifty-year-old local real estate development company, MDH Partners has led and/or participated in over $7 billion (90 million square feet) of acquisitions, developments, and asset management as an advisor and investor. For more information, visit https://www.mdhpartners.com

About Ackerman & Co. Ackerman & Co. is a privately held, full-service commercial real estate firm focused on providing quality investment, brokerage, management and development services across the South. The company, founded in 1967, retains an expert team of 100 real estate professionals. To date, Ackerman & Co. has developed and acquired 44 million square feet of office, medical, industrial, retail and mixed-use space, has 7 million square feet under management, and maintains an investment portfolio valued at $1 billion. For more information, visit https://www.ackermanco.com