The Italian market space that has long been occupied by the live performance venue Connie’s Ric Rac will soon become the new home of Barbacoa in South Philadelphia, and this Mexican restaurant will receive a full liquor license.

This acclaimed Mexican restaurant, led by chef Cristina Martinez, announced that it has signed a lease to lease the property at 1132 S. Ninth St., only four doors from its current location. The grand opening date for the new location has not yet been determined, and Martinez is seeking to hire a local contractor to realize her vision for the space.

Since its humble origins as a food truck near Eighth Street and Watkins Street in 2014, South Philadelphia Barbacoa has undergone multiple relocations in the area. It used to have a store on South 11th Street, and then moved to El Compadre, a South Nine Street restaurant where the former sisters are located.Last year, Martinez Opened another restaurant, Casa Mexico, Just steps away from Barbacoa in South Philadelphia, which is currently only open on weekends.

After the imminent relocation, South Philadelphia Barbacoa and Casa Mexico will be next to each other, located at 1132 and 1134 S. Ninth Street, respectively.

This change provides greater space and options for expanded services to Barbacoa in South Philadelphia. Considering the history of screenings and events in the restaurant, they will have more room for maneuvers and planning.

The closure of Connie’s Ric Rac marked another tragic loss of live music in Philadelphia. The company first opened in the 1980s as a shop full of knick-knacks, but Connie Tartalglia introduced live music and comedy in 2006 to take it to another level. This company is not a traditional bar, but thrives as a performing arts venue, providing guests with dozens of craft beers and entertainment.

Due to the massive reduction in live performances due to the pandemic, Connie’s Ric Rac remained closed until Philadelphia reopened this spring, even though the company tried virtual events last year. On Wednesday, Connie’s Ric Rac published the first Facebook post that showed that their sign had been removed from the storefront.

Publisher Connie’s Ric Rac on Wednesday, June 16, 2021

We will update the story when Barbacoa in South Philadelphia announces the opening date of the new location.