A new southwestern-style restaurant is set to open in Virginia Square in the next few weeks.

Only minor cosmetic upgrades remain on the to-do list for Anita’s, which has been serving New Mexican cuisine at other locations in Northern Virginia for about 50 years.

“We have furniture and everything, and there are no final inspections pending,” Tommy Tellez, vice president of operations, told ARLnow.

Anita’s is the family-owned company’s first location inside the Beltway and will replace the former Extreme Pizza at 3444 Fairfax Drive. It will opt for a fast-casual model, offering a slightly smaller menu and faster service than most other Anita’s locations.

The chain has branches in nine other locations, including the city of Fairfax, Vienna, Ashburn and Springfield.

To get the Arlington location ready to go, Tellez has focused not only on hiring new employees but also on training them quickly.

“I have a team that comes from an existing business and is trained there,” Tellez said, “but at the same time I’ve hired locals from Arlington who commute to our existing restaurants and have been trained in the meantime.”

When the restaurant opens, Anita’s plans a grand opening event with a mariachi band and other festivities.

“We’ve had a lot of people come and knock on the window, that’s for sure,” Tellez said. “We’re just thrilled. And you know, it’s really been a joy to see the following that we have out there, people who have moved to Arlington or retired or come to Arlington from the suburbs, so that’s kind of cool.”