Ernesto’s Mexican Bar and Grill has closed its Owensboro locations. The restaurant’s Whitesville location remains open and has seen strong community support.
Ernesto’s closed its location at 611 Emory Drive in Wesleyan Park Plaza, as the lease had ended. The company also opened a location at 2065 East Parrish Ave., Suite 100, in 2023, inside the former Moe’s Southwest Grill space.
Ashley Bidwell, who assists owner Ernesto Martinez, stated that the closures were directly tied to lease expirations and a shift in long-term strategy.
“The lease was up on [the East Parrish loaction], and then it just expired on Emory Drive,” Bidwell said. “He’s working on buying his own building so he can stop paying rent and just own his own spaces.”
Bidwell said financing is already in place, and the restaurant is now waiting to finalize a purchase before announcing a new opening. She said the next location will not be in Owensboro proper.
“We’re looking more on the outskirts of town,” she said. “As soon as we have an open date, we’ll let everyone know.”
The Emory Drive has faced a turbulent history. Martinez originally opened there prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and was forced to close during the early shutdowns. After reopening, the restaurant was again forced to close when a fire damaged the space in 2020. Martinez previously credited donations and support from loyal customers and business partners for helping the business stay afloat during that period.
Despite the closures in Owensboro, the restaurant’s Whitesville location continues to thrive. Martinez opened that location in 2024 in the former Kelly Rae’s Country Cafe building. The space was remodeled, but at the request of the community, the restaurant kept the American-style breakfast that Kelly Rae’s was known for, while also offering its Mexican menu for lunch and dinner.
“Whitesville is doing great,” Bidwell said. “The community has been super supportive. It’s packed every time we go, and there are tons of takeout orders.”
The Whitesville restaurant is operated by Martinez’s brother, Said Martinez, who Bidwell said has also been well-received by customers.
“They really like him,” she said. “They take good care of customers, and the breakfast has been a unique twist for a Mexican restaurant.”
Bidwell said the success in Whitesville has helped shape future plans, including the possibility of expanding into other rural communities with a similar concept.
“Do more of the same thing,” she said. “Traditional American breakfast, along with the Mexican food.”
Martinez has worked in the Mexican restaurant industry for more than two decades and has previously operated multiple locations in Owensboro, including past sites at Towne Square Mall and downtown.
