FAIR OAKS, CA (MPG) - Look out Fair Oaks, Pancho Villa is heading your way, and he’s bringing his signature smoked BBQ to town.

Husband and wife, Luis and Tammy Chavez, and co-partner Alberto Hernandez, are owners of Pancho Villa BBQ and Catering, a popular mobile food truck which has served the greater Sacramento and Placer counties until late April and have earned a well-deserved following for their smoked American BBQ with a hint of Mexican fusion cuisine.

On April 18^th, the mobile truck and trailer suffered a broken axle while heading to an event, which caused it to flip over on the freeway. No one was injured in the accident, but the rig was a total loss, Chavez said, and all future events the owners had scheduled were cancelled.

Their planned 4,400-square-foot restaurant, in what was once a Godfather’s Pizza restaurant in the Madison Village Plaza, near the corner of Dewey Drive and Madison Avenue at 6716 Madison Avenue, is expected to open in July, said Tammy Chavez.

Pancho Villa BBQ, a member of both the Citrus Heights and Fair Oaks Chambers of commerce earned first place honors for food truck of the year in Fair Oaks in 2022. The truck has also been featured on Fox40 television and Good Day Sacramento.

She took to social media to thank all those who learned of the accident and offered their support and concern.

“We especially wanted to reach out to everyone to thank you for all of your messages of good will. From the bottom of our hearts, we appreciate it, and hope to see everyone real soon,” Chavez said in a video post.

It won’t be long before the hearty, rich scent of BBQ fills the air near the corner of Madison Avenue and in Fair Oaks. A large outdoor smoker was being installed in front of the restaurant.

“We’ll be out of commission for a time, but we’ll do our very best to try and finish the restaurant as quickly as we can,” Chavez said. “We can’t wait to welcome everyone soon to our new home in Fair Oaks,” Chavez said.

Once the mobile truck and trailer returns to service, Pancho Villa BBQ will resume its regular circuit of bookings and special events where it became first known.

Chavez said the restaurant’s menu is in the process of being finalized, but center stage will be its generous portions of baby back ribs in its own BBQ sauce and tri-tip.

The new restaurant will have a capacity of 180 patrons and will start with an initial kitchen staff of 10. Family members are helping with interior décor.

“Our philosophy is simple, make great food and serve it well,” said co-owner Tammy Chavez.

Follow Pancho Villa BBQ on social media and on the web at panchovillabbq.com when news of its opening date will be announced.