Get Ready to Unmask El Luchador this Friday

Roosevelt Avenue is getting a bar and El Santo aficionados will want to pay homage to this new watering hole. Dubbed El Luchador, the new shop will feature a luchador theme as executed by business partners Ricardo Briones, Jesse Campos, Vanessa Martinez and Billy Mendoza.

The bar has been in the soft opening stage since July 3 when they opened their doors quietly to a few friends and family, but will hold its grand opening this Friday, July 14 at 4 p.m. with a group of DJs known as GSK Cumbia and maybe some Spandex-clad special guests.

El Luchador will feature a walk-in cooler that's still being wrapped up, craft beers as well as drinks "our grandpas drink," said Campos. Expect to find five signature cocktails along with a few lucha-friendly shots.

Glimpses of the modern day cantina featured on social show a wide array of luchador art and paraphernalia including posters and some of Mendoza's mask collection — they really don't have room to showcase all 200. Formerly Vaqueros and Andariegos, El Luchador includes a bar, dance floor and lounge area along with a patio and plenty of parking. The name comes from parking lot wrestling matches the bar used to host on weekends. But the bar's mission to become a neighborhood joint is still present.

"We're listening to our neighbors. We had a neighborhood association meeting here," Campos said.

After Friday hours will be 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. with a happy hour running 4 to 7 p.m.

622 Roosevelt Ave., (210) 272-0016.