Mango's to Close Current Location

When Ana Gladys Figueredo first opened Mango’s Grill, she said she was  looking for a little independence.

After working with her former husband as a dental office manager, Figueredo, 60, opened Mango’s in 2004 with her business partner, Jorge Molina.

Eight years later, she said she is gearing up for another change.

The popular Mexican and Salvadoran eatery will be closing its location along the 600 block of Washington Boulevard and moving south along Route 1.

“I wanted to be independent. I wanted to be busy,” she said about opening  the restaurant. “It’s my baby. I put a lot of love and effort into it."

Mango’s will officially close Saturday and reopen in May near the intersection of Route 1 and Cherry Lane Road in the space that housed the Indian Gate Restaurant.

The new restaurant will be 500 square feet larger, Figueredo said, and will seat 66 people.

The closure is needed for construction to begin this spring on a new  the 600 block of 2nd St. at the Route 1 and Route 198 intersection. The store’s construction means the demolition of the buildings that house , , an  store and a multi-story office building.

On the eve of the move, Figueredo, a native of El Salvador, said she is nostalgic.

“I feel so sad because I’ve been here for eight years,” she said.

The restaurant has been a popular neighborhood spot, serving residents in Old Town Laurel and customers as far away as Ellicott City.

Figueredo said she has focused on maintaining quality at the restaurant, where she employs a staff of four.

“I don’t cook, but I am a good taster,” she said. “To me, the most important thing are my customers. I feel like they are my family.”

Customers, too, said they are feeling the love.

Jesse Baturin said he’s a regular and plans to follow Mango’s to its new location.

“It’s a shame that they have to move,” he said. “My dad and I have been coming here for years.”