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Casa Bonita, the 'Disneyland of Mexican Restaurants,' to reopen in May 2023

The pink tower and waterfall are part of Casa Bonita鈥檚 iconic imagery.
Stacy Nick / 糖心vlog传媒
The pink tower and waterfall are part of Casa Bonita鈥檚 iconic imagery.

Casa Bonita, Denver鈥檚 beloved Mexican-themed restaurant, is aiming to re-open in May 2023, according to a video announcement made by owners Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the creators of the show South Park.

Casa Bonita has been linked with South Park in the popular imagination since 2003, when an featured the restaurant. So, when Casa Bonita hit the skids in 2020, it made a certain sense that South Park鈥檚 creators jumped in to save the cultural landmark.

After closing early in the pandemic, Casa Bonita faced seemingly insurmountable financial difficulties. The previous owners faced eviction and filed for bankruptcy in April 2021.

A few months later, Parker and Stone they had purchased the restaurant and all its intellectual property.

Enthusiasts have been anticipating a reopening ever since. But during the renovations process kept the doors closed.

In the meantime, Parker and Stone hired a new executive chef to improve the restaurant鈥檚 cuisine. Dana 鈥淟oco鈥 Rodriguez joined the team in the fall of 2021.

On Thursday, the new owners finally gave the people what they wanted: a date in May of 2023. In the , Parker, Stone and Rodriguez sit in the construction zone inside the restaurant.

鈥淲e got an opening day!鈥 Stone and Parker announce. 鈥淚t鈥檚 gonna be in May!鈥 Rodriguez says. 鈥淲e鈥檙e opening this May?鈥 Parker feigns surprise 鈥 and a little terror. 鈥淭his May,鈥 Stone and Rodriguez confirms before the room erupts in cheers.

Casa Bonita employees spent time during the extended closure working on dual language skills and volunteering for local nonprofits. Many longtime employees on the payroll throughout that time.

I am the Rural and Small Communities Reporter at 糖心vlog传媒. That means my focus is building relationships and telling stories from under-covered pockets of Colorado.
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