MITCHELL — Josh Espinosa had plans to go into international business after college.
Then he realized it wasn’t where he thrived.
Afterward, he worked in a restaurant’s scratch kitchen.
“I loved it,” Espinosa said. “I was never tired of it.”
Espinosa, 33, is taking his business and restaurant experience into a new endeavor at a familiar Mitchell staple.
Espinosa plans to construct a multi-story building with eatery and retail spaces at the site of the former Back 40 Taphouse Grill building, which covers five city lots at 511 N. Main St. The restaurant and retail space is to open in spring 2028, with plans to include a rectangular courtyard inspired by Espinosa’s international travels, with retail shops on the ground floor, an open-air-style market in the middle, and a yet-unnamed restaurant serving breakfast and lunch on the second floor.
Espinosa hopes for architect blueprints to include a third floor for apartments and short-term rentals.
The restaurant will feature a full-service bar. The menu will offer made-from-scratch breakfast items, including French toast, biscuits and gravy, crepes, sandwiches and soups.
“Scratch — It’s a lot of labor into it, but gives a really good flavor,” Espinosa said.
Espinosa plans to roll out dinner at the restaurant at a later time and teased that it would be different from what is currently offered downtown.
The second story restaurant is to have an open-air patio area, with the ability to close part of it during the winter. Espinosa envisions the upstairs patio overlooking downtown Mitchell and the Corn Palace. He said the design could include movable walls, an overhang and heaters that would allow guests to use the space during colder months.
Scenes from the Back 40, which is planned to be demolished to build a new building, on Friday, Nov. 11, 2026, in Mitchell.
Marshall Mitchell / Mitchell Republic
Espinosa is the operations manager for his father Israel’s restaurant businesses in South Dakota, which include Mitchell’s Corona Village, El Columpio, and Mya’s Teriyaki as well as Chamberlain’s Main Street Cafe and Market. The family also previously established Corona Village locations in Boise, Idaho, and Laramie, Wyoming.
The courtyard is a new concept for the Espinosa restaurants.
“Restaurant-wise, we know what we’re doing. I believe we have a really good idea when it comes to building restaurants and bringing attraction, creating good cuisine for the community. But this is outside of our comfort area,” Espinosa said.
Local contractors have deemed the
Back 40 building
a loss with all the different ways the building was expanded or modified over the years, according to Espinosa. The building was previously the Moonlight Bar and Lounge, the Jackpot Gamblin’ bar, and various old-time photography, jewelry and baseball card shops.
The Back 40 Taphouse Grill expanded the footprint to 505 N. Main, which served as its kitchen, and is not included in the courtyard. This storefront was
renovated earlier this year by local Matt Evers
to be his roofing office and includes space for his subcontractors and
a second story outdoor balcony.
Espinosa said the family initially considered building another restaurant on the property before expanding the concept to accommodate multiple businesses. The courtyard project is to be Israel’s last and Josh Espinosa wants the layout to be right.
Under the planned layout, the Main Street side of the building would include four larger retail storefronts, with two entrances leading into the central courtyard. Espinosa estimated the front shops at approximately 30 feet wide and 40 feet deep, which comes out to about 1,200 square feet each.
Four to six smaller retail storefronts would line the back of the courtyard. According to Espinosa, these walls would be able to adjust for a businesses’ needs.
1/20: Josh Espinosa at the Back 40, which is planned to be demolished to build a new building, on Friday, Nov. 11, 2026, in Mitchell.
Marshall Mitchell / Mitchell Republic
2/20: Josh Espinosa at the Back 40, which is planned to be demolished to build a new building, on Friday, Nov. 11, 2026, in Mitchell.
Marshall Mitchell / Mitchell Republic
3/20: Scenes from the Back 40, which is planned to be demolished to build a new building, on Friday, Nov. 11, 2026, in Mitchell.
Marshall Mitchell / Mitchell Republic
4/20: Scenes from the Back 40, which is planned to be demolished to build a new building, on Friday, Nov. 11, 2026, in Mitchell.
Marshall Mitchell / Mitchell Republic
5/20: Scenes from the Back 40, which is planned to be demolished to build a new building, on Friday, Nov. 11, 2026, in Mitchell.
Marshall Mitchell / Mitchell Republic
6/20: Scenes from the Back 40, which is planned to be demolished to build a new building, on Friday, Nov. 11, 2026, in Mitchell.
Marshall Mitchell / Mitchell Republic
7/20: Scenes from the Back 40, which is planned to be demolished to build a new building, on Friday, Nov. 11, 2026, in Mitchell.
Marshall Mitchell / Mitchell Republic
8/20: Scenes from the Back 40, which is planned to be demolished to build a new building, on Friday, Nov. 11, 2026, in Mitchell.
Marshall Mitchell / Mitchell Republic
9/20: Scenes from the Back 40, which is planned to be demolished to build a new building, on Friday, Nov. 11, 2026, in Mitchell.
Marshall Mitchell / Mitchell Republic
10/20: Scenes from the Back 40, which is planned to be demolished to build a new building, on Friday, Nov. 11, 2026, in Mitchell.
Marshall Mitchell / Mitchell Republic
11/20: Scenes from the Back 40, which is planned to be demolished to build a new building, on Friday, Nov. 11, 2026, in Mitchell.
Marshall Mitchell / Mitchell Republic
12/20: Scenes from the Back 40, which is planned to be demolished to build a new building, on Friday, Nov. 11, 2026, in Mitchell.
Marshall Mitchell / Mitchell Republic
13/20: Scenes from the Back 40, which is planned to be demolished to build a new building, on Friday, Nov. 11, 2026, in Mitchell.
Marshall Mitchell / Mitchell Republic
14/20: Scenes from the Back 40, which is planned to be demolished to build a new building, on Friday, Nov. 11, 2026, in Mitchell.
Marshall Mitchell / Mitchell Republic
15/20: Scenes from the Back 40, which is planned to be demolished to build a new building, on Friday, Nov. 11, 2026, in Mitchell.
Marshall Mitchell / Mitchell Republic
16/20: Scenes from the Back 40, which is planned to be demolished to build a new building, on Friday, Nov. 11, 2026, in Mitchell.
Marshall Mitchell / Mitchell Republic
17/20: Scenes from the Back 40, which is planned to be demolished to build a new building, on Friday, Nov. 11, 2026, in Mitchell.
Marshall Mitchell / Mitchell Republic
18/20: Josh Espinosa at the Back 40, which is planned to be demolished to build a new building, on Friday, Nov. 11, 2026, in Mitchell.
Marshall Mitchell / Mitchell Republic
19/20: Scenes from the Back 40, which is planned to be demolished to build a new building, on Friday, Nov. 11, 2026, in Mitchell.
Marshall Mitchell / Mitchell Republic
20/20: Scenes from the Back 40, which is planned to be demolished to build a new building, on Friday, Nov. 11, 2026, in Mitchell.
Marshall Mitchell / Mitchell Republic
The shopping area would feature high ceilings, a central walkway and glass storefronts that allow visitors to see the shops as they walk through the building. Espinosa envisions trees, plants and gardens throughout the courtyard, with the possibility of a decorative water feature and smaller pop-up retail stands.
“Just another option for more life downtown,” Espinosa said.
A nail salon, a fast food restaurant and a martial arts studio have expressed interest in leasing space in the courtyard, according to Espinosa.
The Back 40’s eclectic signs, gear chandeliers, memorabilia and pianos are being saved by Espinosa. The Back 40 land and buildings were sold by Keke Leiferman to Israel Espinosa
in January for a stated value of $300,000,
according to the warranty deed.
The project hopes to use the city’s landfill fee refund program for rehabilitated properties in Mitchell, and to seek increment tax financing.
Demolition is expected to follow completion and approval of the building plans with the city.
“This has to be done right, layout right, everything right,” Espinosa said.
Marshall Mitchell is a reporter with the Mitchell Republic covering local news and politics. He has over 15 years of experience working with leaders, authors, non-profits, and small businesses in publishing, marketing, and content creation. He moved to Mitchell in December 2024, and can’t wait to hear from you. Reach out to him at mmitchell@mitchellrepublic.com.
Dining and Cooking