Don Dawson and Irasema (Ira) Silva pose for a photo in front of what will be their new Latin restaurant, El Loco Social Bistro and Lounge (El Loco). When asked how it will feel to see the space completely renovated and everything in the right places, the couple said “it will feel surreal.” 

Dawson and Silva plan to open El Loco later this summer on the corner of Water Street Market Street (in the former Val’s Gourmet Cakes and Pantry). The 850 sq. ft. space will serve Latin small bites or tapas, charcuterie boards and paninis alongside a bevy of beers, wines and cocktails made with fresh fruit. 

Dawson and Silva agreed that opening what will be their first restaurant feels “scary; however, it’s been nothing but smooth sailing for the couple when working with the City of Washington, the Historic Preservation Commission, the city’s inspection department and the Beaufort County Health Department. “Working with everybody has been a pleasure,” Silva said. 

Also, the support they have received from other downtown merchants has been wonderful, they said. 

“I just love the town,” Silva said. “We walk around a visit with folks. We’ve built really good relationships with 1906, with Two Rivers, with Pitt Street. They’re all so amazing with giving feedback. And that community feeling – I don’t know if a lot of other towns experience that, but it’s really awesome that all of the businesses downtown help each other.” 

Dawson shared that community members have started calling El Loco, El Local Social which is “totally fine.” “It’s a fun name- the local social,” he said. 

Silva added, “people were like, ‘is it local as in locally? And I’m like, you can say that…It’s that play-on-words. A lot of people were like, ‘I like [the word] local like I am a local person or it’s a local place.’”

While calling it a similar name is acceptable, do not call El Loco a Mexican restaurant. El Loco is a place to grab a drink, eat Latin-inspired small bites and converse before continuing the night downtown. 

Ironically, Dawson and Silva moved to Washington four years ago to escape life in a large city and the new construction projects that seem to pop up every day. Now, in the middle of a construction project themselves to build El Loco, they said it will be “surreal” to see it open this summer. 

Dawson and Silva said they are “excited” to be part of the future of downtown Washington. “We’re seeing the progress and we’re excited for what it’s going to be in the future,” Silva said.  

“It’s great to be part of a town that was alive at one point then went down and the way it’s coming back is just beautiful,” Dawson added.

El Loco Social Bistro and Lounge will be tentatively open from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays, from 12 p.m. to 12 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and  from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

on Sundays.