Taco Joy opening in former Mike's Pig Pen

Sep. 3—WATERTOWN — For the past two years, Joy and Steve Baker kept eyeing the former Mike's Pig Pen on Route 11 for their taco stand.

Finally, the price for the former restaurant was reduced and they "just jumped on it," she said. The sign out front says everything about their plans — "Coming Soon Taco Joy."

They've operated a food truck over the past three years, attending the Watertown farmers market and all kinds of events.

So opening up their own place was just a natural step, she said,

Using her own recipes, she'll be offering tacos, other Mexican food and "all kinds of stuff" that she couldn't do in the food truck, she said.

"Everything we do is fresh," she said.

They think that the former Mike's Pig Pen location is perfect to expand the business. It's along busy Route 11 near the car dealerships, and in proximity to city schools and other businesses,

"We live on this side of town and there's nothing over here," Steve Baker said.

They're doing some internal and external painting, doing some repairs to the flooring and windows, and some other cosmetic work before Taco Joy opens "as soon as possible," she said.

They were surprised to find that the place was in such good shape after it sat idol for the past few winters, she said.

They closed on the property on Wednesday. The price was not available.

Mike's Pig Pen closed in 2021 in the midst of the COVID pandemic after eight years in business.