Pepe’s Bistro Moves Downtown

Since 2008, Pepe Fierro’s customers wanted him to open a restaurant downtown. He said he would often get requests from customers, but wasn’t sure about taking the plunge.

Fierro, owner of Pepe’s Bistro (pepesbistro.wordpress.com), wanted a small-town feel for his restaurant and chose to open in Havelock. He later realized his older customers had trouble making it up and down the steps that led to the bistro, so Fierro decided to relocate.

“I found the space at Indian Village Plaza, and there were people of all walks of life coming in,” Fierro said. “Then the lease was [about to end] and without me saying anything to anyone, Kim Coleman, [owner of Indigo Bridge Books], came forward and said ‘Have you ever thought about moving downtown? What if you moved in with us?’ So that’s how that happened.”

Though the menu at Indigo Bridge isn’t as extensive as Pepe’s previous menu, Fierro said he plans to bring back customer favorites with the same local ingredients. Since opening earlier this summer, Fierro has already expanded the menu to include multiple wraps, tacos, nachos and a breakfast burrito.

“I used to change my menu every week, and here it’s going to be a set menu to get food out fast,” Fierro said. “Same awesome ingredients, but it has to be a set menu.”

Fierro said the lunch menu is catered to the office workers in the Haymarket and downtown area who may not have time to take a long lunch. While lunch will be grab-and-go, dinner will host a more sit-down menu for customers. Pepe’s is also offering delivery Monday-Saturday from 10:30 AM to 3 PM. More info can be found on the Pepe’s Downtown Facebook page.

Fierro also stressed his food will not replace the coffee portion of Indigo Bridge; they have simply expanded the kitchen area to allow both in their space.

Though Pepe’s location is new, Fierro said he plans on keeping the same generous spirit as before, and is already thinking up community-driven events to benefit local charities.

“You have to give back to the community,” Fierro said. “When I came to Lincoln to look for work, I was living out of my car. I always feel grateful for what Lincoln’s done for me, so I always want to try and give back.”