General Manager Matt Branstetter and bartender Megan Rose in the Prairie Village Salty Iguana's new dining room.
Matt Branstetter hasn’t been with Salty Iguana Mexican Restaurant since it replaced Granny’s Chicken at Corinth Square 20 years ago — but not too many people have been around longer.
Branstetter started as a cook in 1997, a year after graduating from SM East, and has done just about every job the restaurant has to offer.
“Bussing tables, doing dishes, managing the kitchen — I’ve done them all,” he said.
And as the restaurant celebrates its 20th anniversary this week, he finds himself happily helping keep the Prairie Village Burritos (“They’re perfect”) and Iguana Dip coming.
Branstetter was named General Manager in 2000, and now splits time between the original PV location and the Overland Park restaurant. Salty Iguana also has locations in Independence, Olathe, and Lawrence.
Branstetter said that he and the restaurant’s owners, Dan Chandler and Steve Conrad, have always felt welcomed by the Prairie Village community.
“It’s hard not to love this area,” he said. “You feel like everybody knows you. People from city hall know you by name. It’s not like that in every community.”
The Prairie Village location underwent a major remodel in November, and open after a week-long closure with new iguana-themed murals by Fallon Hamilton, the artist who had painted the original Prairie Village interior:
One of two KU basketball murals at Salty Iguana in Prairie Village.
Some of the movie-themed iguana art at Prairie Village's Salty Iguana.
The restaurant is offering special 20th Anniversary pricing on food through the end of next week.
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