Casa Bonita facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Casa Bonita |
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The front façade of the Lakewood, Colorado Casa Bonita
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| Restaurant information | |
| Established | 1968–1993 (original restaurant) 1971–2011 (Tulsa location) 1973–present (Colorado location) |
| Current owner(s) | Star Buffet, Inc. |
| Food type | Mexican |
| Street address | 6715 West Colfax Avenue |
| City | Lakewood |
| State | Colorado |
| Postal/ZIP code | 80214 |
| Country | USA |
| Seating capacity | 1,100 |
Casa Bonita means "pretty house" in Spanish. It was once a chain of Mexican-themed restaurants known for their entertainment. People called them "eatertainment" places.
The last restaurant in the chain is in Lakewood, Colorado. It has been closed since March 2020. This was because the State of Colorado asked all restaurants to close. This happened during the COVID-19 pandemic.
There were also other restaurants named Casa Bonita. One chain in northern Arizona changed its name to Plaza Bonita in 2011. Another unrelated restaurant is in Libertyville, Illinois.
Contents
History of Casa Bonita
The first Casa Bonita restaurant opened in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in 1968. It was started by Bill Waugh. By the mid-1970s, more locations had opened.
The restaurants were famous for their "all you can eat" meals. They served beef or chicken plates. Every meal also came with sopapillas. These are small squares of fried bread served with honey.
In 1982, the company was sold to Unigate. Later, in 1992, Unigate sold the restaurants to CKE Restaurants. CKE Restaurants also owned Carl's Jr. In 1997, the two remaining Casa Bonita restaurants became part of Star Buffet.
The Tulsa location closed in 2005. It reopened for a short time as Casa Viva. Then it closed again in 2007. Star Buffet reopened it as Casa Bonita in 2008. In 2015, the Lakewood Historical Society made the Colorado restaurant a historic landmark.
Casa Bonita Locations
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
The very first Casa Bonita opened in Oklahoma City in 1968. Mexican food was new and exciting in the area back then. This restaurant was on U.S. Route 66.
It had special themed rooms for dining. These included the Garden Room and El Pokey. El Pokey was a room designed to look like a Mexican jail. The Oklahoma City location closed in 1993. The building was later torn down in 2015.
Tulsa, Oklahoma
The Tulsa Casa Bonita opened in 1971. It was designed to feel like a Mexican village at night. It had many themed dining areas. There was a village square with a fountain. There was also a cave with lanterns.
A tropical garden featured a 20-foot waterfall and a stream. Mariachi musicians walked around and played music. This location also had a puppet and magic show theater. There was a video arcade and a working carousel.
The Tulsa location closed in 2005. It reopened as Casa Viva in 2006. But it closed again in 2007. In 2008, it reopened as Casa Bonita. It closed for good in February 2011 after big snowstorms.
Lakewood, Colorado
The Lakewood Casa Bonita opened in 1973. It is west of Denver on Colfax Avenue. This restaurant can seat over 1000 people at once. It is similar to the Tulsa location in its design.
It features strolling mariachi musicians. There is a 30-foot (9.1 m) waterfall with cliff divers. The restaurant also has a small puppet theater. A "haunted tunnel" called Black Bart's Cave is another fun feature.
There is also an arcade with a large skee-ball room. A magic theater adds to the entertainment. This location was named a historic landmark in March 2015.
Closure During the Pandemic
The Lakewood location closed in March 2020. This was a temporary closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The governor of Colorado asked all restaurants to stop in-person dining. This lasted for about two months.
The restaurant has faced financial challenges since then. It remains closed "due to Colorado-mandated regulations" during the pandemic.
Former Locations
- Hulen Mall, Fort Worth, Texas (1982–1985)
- Little Rock, Arkansas (1969–1993) (1995–2005)
Similar Restaurants
Bill Waugh, who started Casa Bonita, also created a similar restaurant called Casa Viva. This was not related to a fast-food chain in Florida. It operated in former Casa Bonita spots in Little Rock and Tulsa.
Larry H. Miller, who owned the Utah Jazz basketball team, opened a restaurant called The Mayan Adventure in Utah. Casa Bonita sued him because it was too similar. The Mayan Adventure closed in 2011.
Restaurante Arroyo in Mexico is another very large Mexican restaurant. The Mexico Pavilion at Epcot in Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, was also influenced by Casa Bonita.
Images for kids
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The front of Casa Bonita in Lakewood, Colorado.
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The logo for Casa Bonita.
