February 16, 2007 17:08

Carlos Santana to launch restaurant chain

Guitarist to take upscale Mexican food to the masses

Carlos Santana and his wife Deborah have announced plans to launch a chain of upscale Mexican restaurants in the US.

The Maria Maria chain will open its first three restaurants in northern California, where Santana lives with his wife in Marin County, close to San Francisco.

The restaurants will launch in Walnut Creek, Mill Valley and Santa Rosa by June, with plans to expand the chain nationwide.

The chain is named after the 2000 Santana hit ’Maria Maria’, and will emphasise regional Mexican specialties.

There are also plans afoot to open a ‘spectacular flagship location’ under the banner Santanas, which will be guided by their on-the-ground experience gained in Maria Maria.

Santana’s other business ventures include a foray into fashion with a successful line of shoes called ’Carlos by Carlos Santana’.

--By our New York staff.
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