Boone County residents will soon be able to drink colorful flaming margaritas from the increasingly popular Mi Cozumel.
The Springdale, Ohio-based Mexican restaurant — famous for its extensive margarita offerings — is opening a new store in Florence at 7484 Turfway Road.
Four Mi Cozumel restaurants are currently open in the Greater Cincinnati area. The chain has experienced rapid growth in recent years, with four stores projected to open in the region throughout 2025. When opened, the Florence location will be the first Mi Cozumel in Kentucky.
On Jan. 22, the Boone County Planning Commission approved a measure to alter the interior design of the prospective restaurant. Planning Commission Planner Steve Lilly told the legislative body that the architect was seeking a small tweak to the concept development plan.
“Mi Cozumel is occupying the entirety of the commercial building, so today’s request is for a small addition to the existing building,” Lilly said.
Prior to the planning commission meeting, the commission’s technical design/review committee met and approved the proposed changes.
According to Boone County Planning Commission documents, Mi Cozumel will feature two outdoor patios boarding the building’s entrance. The changes will allow alterations to the project’s concept development plan to allow patrons waiting for service to escape from inclement weather conditions.
Emily Lubbers, an architect with MSP Design in Cincinnati, shared the restaurant’s projected opening date. However, it’s unclear whether the move-in process has commenced.
“The goal is by Cinco de Mayo this year, so May,” she said.
Mi Cozumel will be located on a 3.2-acre plot of land adjacent to the Towneplace Suites by Marriott hotel. The plot is owned by SHIHASI KY LLP, a Florence-based company that also runs the hotel, according to the Kentucky Secretary of State’s website. They purchased the land in May 2019 for $7.7 million.
Mi Cozumel will be moving into an already-finished 8,770-square-foot shell building. The Boone County Planning Commission and the Florence City Council passed resolutions approving the project in late 2022. The plot’s zoning designation is Commercial Two.
Mi Cozumel’s menu boasts traditional Mexican classics, including burritos, enchiladas, nachos, tacos and fajitas. Where things get interesting is the drinks portion of the menu, where customers can choose from a number of colorful drinks like rainbow margarita towers, multicolored margaritas inside a Hello Kitty container, and swirled strawberry daiquiris.
“Their food’s very good,” Lubbers said. “I highly recommend the drinks. They set them on fire and they smoke.”