A Colorado couple who moved from Mexico to the US in 1995 with a dream of giving their three children a different future, have closed the restaurant they built over 31 years. Jose and Maria Caballero shut Los Tarascos in Fort Collins, Colorado, after decades of serving Mexican food to the local community.The restaurant close its doors on Wednesday, AOL reported. For the Caballeros, the closure is not just end of a restaurant. It is about the goal that brought them to Fort Collins in the first place- giving their children the chance to attend college, build careers and have lives outside the family business.“My motivation was always my children, to give them a better life,” Maria Caballero told the Coloradoan in an interview conducted in Spanish.When the couple arrived from Michoacan, Mexico, they brought their three children, Hugo Caballero Jr, Gema Caballero and Priscilla Umbreit. They knew little English and were starting a business in a new country. Jose already had restaurant experience in Mexico, while Maria had spent much of her life raising their family and was not prepared for the responsibility of helping run a restaurant. “I wasn’t prepared for that responsibility,” Maria said.Los Tarascos started in a small location, where Thai Station now operates. Jose and Maria worked while raising their children and learning how to manage life in Fort Collins. They cooked recipes from their families in Mexico, including dishes that came from Maria’s mother and Jose’s family.As more relatives came from Mexico, they also joined the restaurant. Parents, siblings and other family members helped with the business, making Los Tarascos a family operation from its early years.
From humble start to popularity
Building a customer base did not happen immediately. Jose said authentic Mexican food was less common in Fort Collins when the restaurant opened in 1995. Some dishes were adjusted slightly for local tastes, while the family also introduced customers to the flavours they had grown up eating.Over time, customers began bringing friends. The restaurant continued to grow, and after about 13 years in its first location, the Caballeros needed a larger space.That led them to 622 S. College Ave., where Los Tarascos spent most of its 31-year history. Another leap in the restaurant’s history came with its longtime customer and local businessman Jim Mokler.When the Caballeros had an opportunity to buy the building, Mokler provided $100,000 to help them secure financing for the purchase. “He believed in us. That was a moment of growth,” Jose said.The restaurant’s story also became closely connected with the Fort Collins community. Jose said the family could not have continued without the support of local customers. “Without the community, we wouldn’t have survived,” he said.That support grew as Los Tarascos became a place where local families gathered for birthdays, anniversaries, business celebrations and Cinco de Mayo events. For the Caballeros, those occasions became part of the restaurant’s history.
Los Tarascos started in a small location, where Thai Station now operates (Picture: Public domain)
Margarita recipe that changed the business
One of the restaurant’s biggest changes came from an idea Jose developed before Los Tarascos opened. He spent months studying successful restaurants and bars and paid particular attention to the margarita programme at Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant.Jose had years of bartending experience in Mexico, so he began developing his own margarita recipes. He tested them and collected feedback from customers before settling on a recipe that became popular.“I would sell two gallons of margaritas, maybe. After that, we’d sell eight gallons,” Jose recalled. The increase in margarita sales helped the restaurant grow further. “The food was the same. But it changed our life,” he said.The restaurant later became a place where customers marked important moments in their lives. Jose recalled weddings, birthdays and anniversaries held there. Some customers even brought the ashes of loved ones who had enjoyed visiting the restaurant.“We’ve celebrated weddings, birthdays, anniversaries,” Jose said. “People have even brought the ashes of loved ones who enjoyed coming here.”For him, however, the response from customers remained one of the most meaningful parts of running the restaurant. “That’s the biggest satisfaction for us as restaurant owners. When people love the food and tell you thank you,” Jose said.
Adiós to Los Tarascos
The decision to close Los Tarascos was not because of business problems, Jose clarified. After more than three decades in the restaurant industry, he and Maria want a slower pace of life. “We still have the passion. We just don’t have the energy,” Jose said.The closure also comes at a point when the couple believes they have achieved the purpose behind the business. Their children have built lives of their own instead of being tied to the restaurant.Gema runs her own clothing brand, while Hugo is preparing to launch a tequila brand. Priscilla is focused on the next stage of her life after spending years helping manage Los Tarascos.“We wanted them to go to college and build their own lives. That was always the dream,” Jose said. “We’re closing with nostalgia. But we’re happy,” Maria added.The couple does not plan to stop working altogether. They expect to spend some time helping at La Buena Vida, while also travelling, enjoying retirement and spending more time with their grandchildren.