Rio 1854, a new restaurant from the family behind local mini-chain Taco Libre, is set to open next month in the former site of The Dock in downtown Stillwater.

The menu at the full-service restaurant — open for breakfast, lunch and dinner — will showcase Latin American flavors in a vibrant and colorful space, said Anthony Ramirez, who along with his two sisters and parents are behind the project. Think seafood, grilled meats or parrilladas, and fun cocktails and non-alcoholic beverages.

“We’ve been really interested in a full sit-down restaurant; we were just looking for the perfect location — and I think we found it,” he said. “We try to give a little bit of everything to the people.”

The Ramirez family also owns Mexatlan Supermercado in South St. Paul in addition to Taco Libre, which initially opened in West St. Paul and has locations in Eagan, Oakdale, Roseville and Edina.

The Dock, previously known as The Dock Cafe, closed in February. It had previously been closed from early 2020 till 2022, when it reopened under new management and with a new menu.

In addition to a large parking lot, there’s also a patio overlooking the St. Croix River with an outdoor bar, Ramirez said. When the weather is nice, Rio 1854 is planning to host live music on the patio, and on chillier days, there’ll be bonfires and “igloos” — those heated domes that enclose individual tables — so outdoor dining can continue.

The Ramirez family has spent the past few months preparing the space and redecorating — no major structural changes, but updating the decor and vibe for the new restaurant concept.

“It’s not an upscale restaurant, though the food quality will taste like it,” Ramirez said. “It won’t be a reservations-only kind of place. We’re keeping it affordable to everybody.”

Rio 1854 is set to open sometime in October, Ramirez said. Tentative hours are from 7 a.m. to 9 or 10 p.m.

Rio 1854: 225 E. Nelson St., Stillwater; rio1854.com

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