It’s always a treat to see local restaurants celebrate anniversaries. Whether it be 100 years or a business’ very first anniversary, it’s an important milestone for everyone involved.
Guadalajara Original Grill has hit its 20-year mark and is ready to celebrate all that the restaurant has grown to be throughout the decades.
How it all began
Owner Emma Vera opened the very first location on Prince Road and the Oracle location followed in its footsteps in 2016. She brought her passion for food, vibrant colors, and Mexican culture with her when she moved to the United States from Guadalajara.
A couple of decades ago, she constructed a menu full of traditional recipes and innovative twists, utilizing crafty seafood dishes and specialty plates to ingrain her Mexican influence into other culinary realms.
“It’s amazing that it’s been 20 years,” said Vera. “I have staff that’s been here for almost that long, too. It’s like a family here and I love being part of the community.”
How it’s been going
Upon entrance, the beautiful murals will definitely grab your attention, but it’s also easy to get distracted by the whiffs of table-side salsa being created right before an eater’s eyes. Or perhaps you’ve caught glances of the freshly-made tortillas flattening out by someone who’s been with the restaurant for nearly 20 years, only to eventually make their way onto someone’s plate — a perfect companion to sop up what’s left behind.
“I’m so proud of everyone that’s been working with us,” said Vera. “We did some math and we make 269,000 tortillas a month. So, if you put it all together for the last 20 years, we’ve made five million tortillas.”
A big shoutout to the community
To celebrate the 20th anniversary, Guadalajara Original Grill is hosting a Customer Appreciation Day at both locations on Wednesday, March 16.
There’s going to be 20-percent off menu items, 20-year anniversary t-shirts for sale, and $20 gift cards will be raffled off, too. Are you catching a theme here?
Additionally, there will be live music and the House Margarita will be offered at its original price when the restaurant first opened. You’ll just have to stop by on Customer Appreciation Day to see just how much that is.
Hours of operation at the Prince location are 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. on Sunday – Thursday and 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The Oracle location is open from 11 a.m – 9 p.m. on Monday – Saturday and 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. on Sunday.
Guadalajara Original Grill is located at 1220 E Prince Rd. and 7360 N. Oracle Rd. For more information, visit guadalajaraoriginalgrill.com.
Article written by:
Matt Sterner
More about MattAt a very young age, Matt Sterner was gifted with the artistic ability to masterfully roll a burrito to the highest of standards, but the wrapped medley of delicious innards wasn’t his first love. Matt’s first true love was a combination of reading, writing, and creating. He grew up reading comics, the ingredients list of his shampoo and conditioner bottles, choose-your-own-adventure books, and the Scrabble dictionary — something he found useful when challenging his grandmother to a game.
He attended college at New Mexico State University and graduated with a degree in Digital Filmmaking. One of his favorite classes was screenwriting because he became responsible for the story’s birth before it came to life on-screen. After school, Matt took on numerous positions at a local television station in Tucson. From dealing out stories about heartbreak to producing “fluffier” content for a lifestyle broadcast, he learned what it takes to adapt to the many emotions the world of media can stir. Since 2017, Matt has dabbled in the culinary world of Tucson as well as San Diego, California from time to time.
If you’re in the mood for strange stories, head over to his pride and joy, wonkytimes.com. And in case you’re curious — yes, after all of this time, he still manages to roll a killer burrito.
