Salud Bar and Kitchen will open in the Riverfront Hotel in Richland the second week of February, according to owner Fernando Cuellar. The Riverfront Hotel is just south of Howard Amon Park in downtown Richland.

The space in the hotel has been remodeled into a large bar and a dining area. It also includes an outside deck with heaters which sits next to the riverfront trail and overlooks the Columbia River.

The Observer interviewed Cueller while a photographer snapped promotional pictures of the deck and its views.

Cueller told the Observer that the restaurant would be open 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday and 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. He said that he planned for the restaurant to have something for everybody from families to partiers who enjoy music and dancing. He also plans to cater.

A lighted sign next to the bar read “Tacos and Tequila.” Cuellar said the restaurant will serve tacos, flatbreads and nachos but he expects to expand the menu when a chef joins the staff in March.

Cueller, who has been a real estate agent, said that this is his first experience in the restaurant business.

The Observer reported in September that the Riverfront Hotel had been remodeling rooms and landscaping outside areas as it recovers from the dismal COVID years. The Salud Bar and Kitchen will be another step forward.