Restaurant partners Michael DuBois and Brad Friedlander are moving Lopez from East Washington Street to North Main Street by year's end.

By Paris Wolfe, cleveland.com

CHAGRIN FALLS, Ohio – About one year after opening in Chagrin Falls, Lopez will be moving to a larger space. The name will evolve to Lopez 44 to reflect the new address at 44 North Main St., Chagrin Falls, in space formerly occupied by Flip Side.

This is the latest iteration of restaurateur Brad Friedlander’s Lopez brand – he founded the groundbreaking, but now shuttered, Lopez y Gonzalez in Cleveland Heights in 1980. This latest version of the concept is Lopez 3.0. “We were very happy with the work we were able to do with Lopez, but we felt we could take it a step further and make it even better,” said Friedlander.

In its move from East Washington Street to North Main Street the restaurant will grow 50 percent from 50 seats to 75. And it will open with a completely revised, Southwestern menu. Diners will find Mexican influenced classics like tacos al carbone as well as Southwestern American dishes like ribs and BBQ chicken.

Lopez 44’s menu will be handled by executive chef Christa Barnoski, a Cleveland native who helped open Lopez and formerly worked at The Last Page in Pinecrest.

The beverage menu will include craft cocktails, a large collection of tequilas and a wine list. The new restaurant is a partnership project between Friedlander and the Cleveland Restaurant Management Group. Lopez 44 will be CRMG’s second location on North Main Street, joining Oddfellows at 16 N. Main Street.

The East Washington location where Lopez is continuing to operate for now will become 506 Space, a venue for private parties and events. 506 Space is slated to open this year.

When Lopez 44 is renovated and reopened – by year end -- hours will be 4 to 9 p.m. Monday to Thursday and 4 to 10 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays. Lunch hours will follow at a later date.