Beech Tree News Network

Mitla Café was founded in 1937 by Lucia Rodriguez and her then-husband Vincente Montano.  What started as a simple lunch counter on Route 66 quickly began to grow in popularity.  After being widowed, Lucia later remarried to Salvador Rodriguez, and in the mid-‘40’s helped expand Mitla café to its current size.  Along with help from her children, Theresa, Helen, Vera and Frank, Lucia turned Mitla Café into a community staple on the Westside of San Bernadino, serving celebrities, local dignitaries, politicians and people from all walks of life.

After Lucia’s passing in 1981, the restaurant remained owned and operated by her children until her passing in 1984, then Frank along with his wife Irene Montano.  It wasn’t until 2013 that ownership changed again, this time with Lucia’s youngest grandson and her great-grandson assuming the mantle of ownership. Now, after almost 80 years and four generations later, Mitla Café remains family operated and owned in the same location as in 1937. (www.mitlacafesb.com)

I was watching one of my favorite shows, CBS Sunday Morning, and they were chronicling this restaurant.  That’s what gave me the idea for researching further into Mitla Café. I discovered on the broadcast that the reason Lucia opened her restaurant is that she didn’t want her grandkids to go hungry.  This next part was what I found most interesting.

In the 1950’s, Bell’s Burgers was across the street from the Café.  The owner, Glenn Bell, saw that the owners had a line to purchase tacos.  The owners understood what Bell was doing and wanted to help him.  So, Glenn Bell, armed with the restaurant’s hard-shell recipe, launched Taco Bell.

Through the years, Mitla has served as a gathering place for community organizing.  It even earned a spot in history for the fight for civil rights.  There were days Mexican kids couldn’t swim in the local swimming pools.  Those community organizing meetings led to a court case and a decision to desegregate all California parks and pools.  (CBS Sunday Morning, 11-21-21). 

I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving and I’ll be right back here next week!