COLONIE, N.Y. -- After a quarter century on Central Avenue, Garcia's is no mas. The Mexican restaurant shut its doors for good Sunday night. But, for the owner, it’s not totally unexpected.
"This was my first job. I just turned 15 years old," said Tommy Bouchey, former Garcia's worker.
Bouchey's job was bussing tables at Garcia's back in high school, and leading to his fiancé, Rebecca.
"It's just amazing. It is so sad that it is closing," said Rebecca Williams, former Garcia's worker.
Closing is the spot where they slaved together over salsa. After 25 years, the Colonie Mexican restaurant says adios.
"I'm thrilled for the business we have had. Sad to leave," said owner Rick Lamparelli.
After a quarter century on Central Avenue, Garcia's is “no mas”. The Mexican restaurant shut its doors for good Sunday night. As Curtis Schick reports, for the owner it’s not totally unexpected.
On its last night in Colonie, Garcia's was busy. Really busy, so busy in fact they ran out of food, but, Lamparelli said this sort of night hasn't been the norm.
He says the closure comes as expenses like energy, labor, and rent have skyrocketed, and admits he's better a restaurant guy than at a business guy. He said competitors like Moe's are changing the way people go out for Mexican food.
"Chi-Chi's closed five years ago, Rio Bago's, Don Pablo, Rio Pago, Chevy's Fresh Mex, are all in forms of bankruptcy. We probably hung on five years longer than we should," said Lamparelli.
"It's like the end of an era. It's like someone dying. It's like we are at funeral," said Williams.
"It's pretty sad, but, knowing the way Rick is, he's got something up his sleeve," said Bouchey.
What Lamparelli has up his sleeve, he wasn't saying and wouldn't say what might replace the place he's come to work since 1983.