Casa de Valdez restaurant closes its doors
Patrons poured into Casa de Valdez restaurant in Taos over the weekend to get their last fix of Northern New Mexico and barbecue fare there for the last time. The restaurant ended operations Pete Valdez worked long hours on Tuesday (Nov. 23) after and often came in on his days off decades in business. The restaurant, to clean the kitchen or prepare which is sauces and meat.
located at 1401 However, neither Paseo del Pueblo one of them Sur, is also on the thought they would corner between end up working other popular New in the restaurant Mexican restaurants industry. the Guadalajara Valdez is a Vietnam Grill and War veteran Antonio’s. originally from
The familyowned Southern Colorado. restaurant He was pursuing
first opened its a PhD in Public doors in 1979 by Administration owner and head when he took chef Pete Valdez. over his brother’s Valdez went on a fledgling barbecue
hiatus from 2001 restaurant located to 2012 and leased the building then on the south part of town. to the former Tequila’s restaurant. He said he didn’t have much Recently, Valdez and his wife, Tillie restaurant experience prior to Valdez, a restaurant manager, said owning the restaurant. After asking “it was finally time” to close down
permanently after serving as a favorite spot for many locals and tourists.
“We’re gonna miss them all—all our customers, all our regulars, anybody that has come in,” said Tillie Valdez.
They both take great pride in the years they’ve put into the establishment, from the food to
the service.
for tips on barbecuing methods he was led to an “old gentleman in South Carolina,” Valdez
said, who taught him everything about barbecue. Valdez said that,
since then, people from all over, including Texas have praised his barbecue, as well as the steaks and New Mexican food.
A few years into owning the restaurant, he met his wife, Tillie.
Tillie Valdez is a born and raised Taoseña who spent 37 years working as an educator with Taos Municipal Schools and New Mexico Highlands University. She said
the last three years she stepped in
full time to do all the paperwork and work as a manager. She said regular customers frequently
strike up conversations with her. Many of the customers that come in, she said, are past students of hers.
“Taos...it’s like one big family, everybody is so close. You walk in
here and everybody knows your name,” said Tillie Valdez.
After the indoor dining ban was lifted, the Valdez family said
they saw a surge in patronage. Their son Juan Valdez, a financial
analyst for Los Alamos National Laboratory, even helped out some evenings tending bar.
A few weeks ago, they put a sign on the front door to let customers
know the restaurant would close on Tuesday (Nov. 23).
“I saw the sign and I went ‘Oh my god.’ So now I’m all sad. I told [Pete Valdez] I’m coming every
night till you close,” said Dave Romero, owner of the Taos Historic Trolley and frequent customer, on Monday (Nov. 15).
Tillie Valdez said the family initially hesitated to close because of their loyalty to their staff. She
said their staff has always been reliable and helped them build a reputation as one of the places to eat in Taos.
“We have a lot of family working for us,” said Pete Valdez, referring to the restaurant staff.
They describe themselves as workaholics and keeping busy
has helped them after they lost their youngest son in 2007 in an accident. Pete mentioned that
he’d now like to travel since he is retired.
They don’t have any immediate plans to do anything after the restaurant has closed.
“I know it’s gonna be really difficult. That’s the hard part. We’re
gonna have to find something to do,” said Tillie Valdez with a chuckle.
‘Taos ... it’s like one big family, everybody is so close. You walk in here and everybody knows your name.’
TILLIE VALDEZ
Casa de Valdez