'The Rock of Talk' Debate of the Day: Have You Lost a Favorite Haunt to Lockdown Lunacy?
'We're all in this together'
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The New Mexico Restaurant Association’s Carol Wight says that her industry has suffered 200 losses, and the Albuquerque Journal has started a list of “metro restaurants, breweries, bars and clubs to close permanently since March.”
Have you had to say goodbye to a treasured eatery or drinking hole?
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Ortega's on Wyoming and Comanche. Closed after 32 years. Owner was a patient of mine at the VA, that's how I originally found out about the place.
Treated my family like his own. Thanks MLG.
I taught in Muleshoe, TX for a few years and then moved to Clovis. One of the more well known restaurants (family owned) was Leal's Mexican Food Restaurant. It is a great story of success as to how the restaurant came into being. The restaurant in Clovis was run by two of the children of the founder of the original restaurant in Muleshoe. It was ultimately run by one of my former students, Laura Leal. The business was so successful that she ultimately opened a much larger second location. Both restaurants were packed every night prior to the pandemic for years. Upon entering, you would see many posters of athletic teams, youth activities of all kinds. They were a big sponsor of the Clovis Music Festival and basically every civic endeavor. The sad fact is that the larger restaurant is empty with a for sale sign in front. The other restaurant is barely surviving. I am not sure how many people are out of work as a result of this. My daughter lives in Clovis and I regard Laura Leal as a special friend and person. It was my favorite place to eat anywhere in New Mexico. I pray that the smaller restaurant will be able to survive. In addition, the Leal's in Amarillo has closed for good. Before the pandemic, they were in the process of an expansion into a very large facility.