Guadalajara restaurant returns

A classic restaurant of Clovis is getting rebirth within weeks.

Guadalajara Restaurant, which once started in a grocery store run by the Mendoza family near Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in the 1940s, will be opening in the Master’s Center.

“Some folks might not recognize that location, it’s 810 East 21st Street,” John Rink said.

Rink, who has worked in food service since he was 16-years-old and as a manager of major Clovis restaurants since 1999, will be taking care of employees, paperwork and such in the operation.

“This is actually an old restaurant, dates back to the 1940’s with a grocery store on L. Casillas Boulevard,” Rink said.

Rink said owner Sid Strebeck believes in the heritage of Clovis and so the effort to bring the restaurant back into existence began.

The restaurant closed in 2006, according to Rink. The original building on L. Casillas was destroyed in a fire in 2011.

Rink is looking forward to working with Mike Mendoza in the operation.

“Mike will be in the kitchen and I’ll take care of the front end. That way Mike can focus on the kitchen. He and I make a really great team.”

Rink pointed out the old menu will be offered at the new Guadalajara Restaurant.

“It’s basically the original menu with a few additions to begin with. We’re going to add calabacitas, plus steak and chicken fajitas on top of the original menu that Guadalajara had for years,” Rink said.

Rink said the plans are for the restaurant to be open by the end of the month.

“We’re taking applications and hiring and hope to start training by Sept. 18.

It’s really big and beautiful. So we’re going to hire 120 employees,” Rink said.