Margaritas restaurants expanding to D.C.

The New England chain Margaritas Mexican Restaurant is planning to open nine restaurants in the Washington area, the company announced this week.

The establishments are no small feat — with each location between 5,200 and 7,500 square feet, the restaurants have the ability to anchor an intersection or retail row. The company prefers to convert locations rather than build from the ground up — in its 24-year history, it has converted 18 of its 21 locations.