ALLENTOWN, Pa. — New faces are taking over one of Allentown's newest restaurants.
Months after José Garces, a James Beard Award-winning chef who won the second season of "Iron Chef," opened Rosa Blanca, another Lehigh Valley entrepreneur is stepping in to help manage the Cuban café.
Angel Ramirez, who also owns and operates Amigos next door to Rosa Blanca, announced the move in a Facebook post.
"We're thrilled to bring fresh energy, great food, and unforgettable experiences to the community and we couldn't have gotten this opportunity without you," the post reads.
The "Iron Chef" winner still owns the Cuban café, but Ramirez and his team will now manage it.
"Garces' team gave us an amazing opportunity to partner with them to manage Rosa Blanca now that it is established," Ramirez said. "We are honored to be overseeing day-to-day operations and staffing at Rosa Blanca, executing the same awesome dining experience for guests."
Ramirez also announced his team is hiring servers, bartenders and managers for the Downtown West restaurant.
The move comes after Garces opened his second Allentown restaurant, Okatshe, in October. The Japanese-inspired restaurant sits just across the street from Rosa Blanca, which opened in April.
Residents noticed a lock on the door to Rosa Blanca around 11 a.m. Friday.
The restaurant isn't closed, just changing its hours.
Rosa Blanca will now operate Tuesday through Friday from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m., opening earlier on Saturday and Sunday, at 10 a.m., to accommodate brunch.
