Beloved Arcata Mexican restaurant Esteban’s recently relocated from its well-known home on I Street where it was tucked between Los Bagels and Wildwood Music for over a decade. The business is now located in the nearby Victorian building previously occupied by T’s Cafe.

The move came as a shock for many customers who appreciated the old location’s vibes and take-out style. Restaurant employee Luis Calderon said the location change wasn’t by choice.

“The owner of the building didn’t want to rent anymore. We got lucky to find this building across the street,” Calderon said.

The restaurant still plans on serving take-out from its new location, but the larger and more open space will allow for more sit-down dining as well after some renovations are complete.

“The plan is to make it a big place (and) put tables around. More (of a) dinner place but still be open for lunch and takeout,” Calderon said.

The expanded space will also help Esteban’s grow its menu to accommodate more customers eating in.

“We added more plates, still the same burritos and tacos (as well as) seafoods and sopas,” Calderon said.

Frequent customer Alyssa Kell is glad Estaban’s found another home to keep making the food she and so many other Arcatans love.

“Nobody else in Arcata does tortillas like them. I just want them to exist really. It was a fun little hole-in-the-wall spot (before) but at least they didn’t go out of business,” Kell said.

Sasha Love is a staff writer for The Pepperbox, the newspaper of Arcata High School.