The self-named party town of Bismarck's Mexican restaurants, a historic mainstay in the city's downtown, is changing hands this month.

Al and Susan Braun will be the new owners of Fiesta Villa by the end of this month. The sale is expected to be complete by April 27; the restaurant will close for three days and reopen under the new owner on May 1.

Braun is purchasing the restaurant from Paul Brink and Ken Litt, who've owned the restaurant since its modest beginnings in Mandan, nearly 30 years ago.

Six years after opening, Brink and Litt renovated and moved into the old depot building in downtown Bismarck, where they've stayed for the past 24 years. They commissioned an artist to paint a mural across the ceiling, and adapted festive decor throughout.

"The depot's been active since then,"Brink said.

Brink is ready to retire from the restaurant business; 30 years, after all, is a long time to do any one thing.

"The restaurant business is more severe than any other business Ican think of,"he said. "Days, nights, weekends. That's when you're here, all the time. It just wore me out."

But it's been a fun ride, he added.

Brink, a North Dakotan, took the first offer he had on the restaurant - mainly because it happened to be by a man he respected and trusted.

Braun was born and raised in Bismarck, but moved to California 20 years ago and ran a chain of oil lube-chain centers. That chain grew from 10 stores to 80 stores, and was sold in 2005.

He returned to Bismarck in May 2007 and helped his son open the car lube and wash on 12th Street and University Drive.

And then he set his sights on Fiesta Villa.

"It's one of the older restaurants in Bismarck,"he said. "The background of it, the ambience of it is second to none."

Braun has big plans for the place, including adding a 20 square feet on to the bar area in October. He's adding a little bit to the menu and is updating the patio for a stage where he plans to host live music Wednesday through Saturday. The patio is getting a tiki-inspired facelift, with new furniture, too.

"We're going to keep the margaritas, the famous, house-blended margaritas, and add some new drinks to our menu,"he said.

In fact, he hired a bar manager from Seattle, who plans to bring more specialty drinks.

Brink is excited about the changes, too.

"It's all good. It's been a fun ride, and Ithink this place is going to prosper for many years to come,"he said. "We're more than excited about the new owner."

(Reach reporter Crystal R. Reid at 250-8261 or crystal.reid@;bismarcktribune.com.)