The new lessees of 7710 Long Point Rd. — formerly home to all-Mex-no-Tex Otilia’s Mexican Restaurant — announced last week that they’ll be filling the spot with a craft beer bar and restaurant called The Branch. The folks in charge appear to be former Hay Merchant-slash-Underbelly catering head Madeline Cabezut, current Hay Merchant bar manager Kyle Pierson (though Hay Merchant itself is not involved in the project), and former Miller/Coors spokesmodel Amanda Mixon. An entity linked to serial redeveloper Braun Enterprises bought the place last year, after Otilia’s 2014 for-real-this-time shutdown. The trio formally leased the space around the end of September, and plan to have the place open early next year.

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The bar-to-be’s neighbors on either side include Advanced Auto Parts to the east at the corner with Jacquelyn St., the insurance-heavy office-retail complex to the west, and the wholesale-plant-nursery-turned-empty-parking-lot at the corner with Johanna St.

• Announcement [The Branch Craft Beer & Foodery]
• Previously on Swamplot: Underbelly and the Hay Merchant Going Whole Hog Together

Photos: Swamplot inbox