Robin Godwin: Ruben’s Mexican Food Opens Brooklyn Park Location, Opening Washington, D.C. Location

Federal Hill restaurant Ruben’s Mexican Food has opened a second location at 5502 Governor Ritchie Hwy. in Brooklyn Park. The new Ruben’s is inside of an American gas station.

Ruben’s in Federal Hill is owned by cousins and Digital Harbor High School graduates Ruben Ramirez Jr. and Jonathan Ramirez. The Ruben’s in Brooklyn Park will be run by Ruben Ramirez Jr.’s father Ruben Romero, who started a crepe business at farmers’ markets, including the Baltimore Farmers’ Market & Bazaar.

Romero once had a Ruben’s at 1043 S. Charles St, the current location of Ruben’s, before closing it to focus on his mobile crepe business. Three concepts followed Ruben’s at the S. Charles St. storefront before it was brought back by Ruben Ramirez Jr. and Jonathan Ramirez. Romero sold his business mobile crepe business several years ago.

Ruben Ramirez Jr. and Jonathan Ramirez will be supporting Romero on the menu and operations side in Brooklyn Park. Ruben Ramirez Jr. said he and Jonathan Ramirez would like to eventually franchise Ruben’s, and they saw this as an opportunity to give it a test run.

Ruben’s is also opening a third location in Washington, D.C. Ruben Ramirez Jr. and and Jonathan Ramirez are opening out of a CloudKitchens ghost kitchen. They will have their own commercial kitchen in a warehouse and orders will be available online and through third-party apps. Ruben’s will move into its D.C. space next week and open soon after.

Ruben Ramirez Jr. said CloudKitchens had been reaching out to Ruben’s for a while and they saw this an opportunity to get their name out there in Washington, D.C.

Operating out of a small space in Federal Hill, Ruben’s is also eying a second location in Federal Hill to serve as a commercial kitchen to support its other locations and catering orders, as well as to take on its own orders. Ruben’s also distributes its signature hot sauce.

Ruben Ramirez Jr. said the COVID-19 pandemic hit his business hard, but things are now back to normal. He said catering orders from the University of Maryland Medical Center and The Johns Hopkins Hospital kept the business going. Ruben’s is busy again with late-night orders in Federal Hill as well as serving lunch and dinner.

Ruben Ramirez Jr. said Taco Tuesday remains a hit. He also noted popular new items including birria tacos on Wednesdays and its Cali Burrito which has steak, French fries, guacamole, and ranchito sauce inside.

Photos from the Ruben’s Mexican Food Facebook page