Mexican restaurant with Harford roots to take over old Donna’s space at Cross Keys

A Mexican restaurant with roots in Harford County will join the dining lineup next spring at the Village of Cross Keys.

Sol Oaxaca will take over the space that used to belong to Donna’s Cafe , according to a Wednesday news release from Caves Valley Partners, the North Baltimore shopping center’s developer.

The Mexican spot, which already has a location in Bel Air , serves classic dishes such as street tacos, enchiladas and fajitas, as well as specialties from the Oaxaca (pronounced “wah-HA-kah”) region in southern Mexico such as mole-roasted chicken thighs. Mexican and craft beers, margaritas and a large tequila selection will accompany the food.

Sol Oaxaca will expand upon the old Donna’s building with a footprint of 3,800 square feet and a 3,000-square-foot outdoor patio. Donna’s, a Cross Keys stalwart, closed in 2018 after 19 years in business.

Sol Oaxaca’s co-founding partner, Tom Doxanas, said in a statement that he picked the shopping center for the restaurant’s next location because of “Caves Valley’s vision combined with the heritage location and the void in upscale Mexican food offerings in the immediate area.” The restaurant’s other founding partner, Reynaldo Villatoro, died in February.

The new lease fills the final food and beverage slot at the retail center, which is in the midst of a comprehensive renovation. Cross Keys, built by developer Jim Rouse in 1965, was acquired by Caves Valley Partners in 2020 for $27 million .

Recent dining additions include Easy Like Sunday , Cece’s Roland Park and Always Ice Cream Co . ZaVino Italian Marketplace is slated to open in August, and a new location of Harbor East’s Kneads Bakeshop will join Cross Keys in the fall. Atlas Restaurant Group plans to open a Chinese restaurant in the center in winter 2025.

Caves Valley also said Wednesday that it has signed a lease with Ruxton Mercantile, a Baltimore County “modern general store” selling housewares, accessories, gifts, and men’s and women’s apparel. The shop will take 1,600 square feet in a new retail suite across from Cece’s Roland Park and is expected to open in early fall.