El Zocalo restaurant, a fixture in Detroit's Mexicantown for 33 years, closes Sunday and patrons post tributes on social media.
"We think Sunday will be a regular day, but then we didn't think we'd get this much attention because we're closing," 80-year-old owner Yvonne Cordoba, who plans to retire, tells Marti Benedetti of Crain's Detroit Business. "We thought we'd just fade away."
The Baglery Avenue restaurant and property are for sale for $1.5 million.
"I'm not sure a restaurant will go in here, but we've seen people who are interested," says Cordoba, who'll retire. Her husband, who started the restaurant in 1983, died three years ago.
"Retirement well-deserved," Sandy Hovarth of Windsor posts on our Facebook page, adding: "That's where I got engaged!"
These other Deadline readers are among those also expressing regret since Wednesday:
- "The best botanas ever!" -- Joyce Alaniz
- "We love this place!" -- Elizabeth Bechard
- "I have lots of fond memories of the place! Good luck to all who worked there!" -- Larry Sheff
- "I love and live for the botana there!" -- Jackie Stuart, Huntington Woods
- "No! My family loves this place because of the staff. Best food -- we will miss you dearly!" -- Jennifer Hoge
- "80 years old! God bless her - hoping she finds the right buyer!" -- Lisa Graham
- "Great memories there. So sad." -- Lilian Stupnyckyj
- "I remember it well with pleasure." -- Barbara Annis
- "Damn, that's sad. I like that place." -- Neil Kaperea
- "That is a shame." -- Dan Ferrell
- "Nooooo!" -- Monica Wright-Carter
- "Their food and service has always been good, and by comparison the prices were more than reasonable. I would have paid a little extra to see them stay in business." -- Ekim Drawde
- "Got to make one more run when I go home this weekend." -- Gregory B. Shavers Jr., Washington, D.C.
- "So much better than Xochilmilco. I will miss going there! Hope someone makes a nice place out of it." -- Geraldine Reynolds
- "Not only loved the food there, but it also holds a special memory for me as that's where I got engaged! Retirement well-deserved!" -- Sandy Hovarth, Windsor
- "Thank you El Zocalo for all your years of great service, great loyalty and most of all loving my city! Salud. -- Robert Wright
- "I used to love going there when I lived in Michigan." -- Mary McIntyre
News of the closing was first reported Wednesday at Eater Detroit by editor Brenna Houck, whose link we shared at Facebook (generating the comments above).
