El Rancho Grande changing hands after 72 years; owners retiring, but the chips stay
The Falcon family is selling El Rancho Grande Restaurant, known for its thin chips, tortillas and old-time Tex-Mex chili con carne, to a new owner who will keep the same menu and food, according to a restaurant Facebook post late Saturday night.
Owner Gilbert Falcon wrote in an email: “After 72 years, 51 for me, I have decided to retire.”
In recent weeks, another local restaurateur has confirmed interest in El Rancho Grande, but said the deal was not complete.
El Rancho Grande is one of the oldest Tex-Mex restaurants in Texas along with Fort Worth landmarks The Original, which claims to have opened in 1926; Joe T. Garcia’s, celebrating its 85th birthday July 4; and the Mexican Inn Cafes, which opened in 1936.
On Saturday, a post on Rancho Grande’s Facebook page read: “It’s with great sadness we must say goodbye to all our customers. Our customers who have all become great friends to the entire Falcon family.
“After 72 years we have countless wonderful memories.
“All of you chip lovers don’t worry, the new owners will have Rancho chips, tortillas and food.
“Debra [Martin] and Brenda [Holloway, twin grandaughters of the founders] will be there for awhile to help with the transition.
“Thank you all for these wonderful 72 years..”
El Rancho Grande, known for chips and its tamales-and-chili plate, expanded its tamal business this year, selling handmade pork or cheese-and-jalapeno tamales.
For most of its history, Herculano and Juanita Falcon’s little restaurant at 1400 N. Main St. has been known as the No. 2 favorite Mexican restaurant in town and a must-try stop for “retro” Tex-Mex.
The Falcons originally opened a tamal and tortilla factory on East Central Avenue that later expanded and took over a former pharmacy
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This story was originally published July 3, 2020 at 10:52 PM.
