Que Ricos

By: Gustavo Castillo Sr

A scene from the mural where Que Ricos original logo, "Tavito", can be seen in the center with "Kiki". In the background a neighborhood taco stand is depicted

Art is an important way we share Mexican culture in our restaurants. When we were nearing completion of the first Que Ricos in Arleta, CA, we had most of the building blocks ready to host guests; but, the dining area still felt incomplete. We had tables and chairs, but it lacked life and spirit. We had a large blank wall towards the back of the dining area and I thought it could be a good opportunity for a mural. I called my friend Armando Campero who, at the time, was the most famous Mexican Muralist in the United States. Armando studied under Diego Rivera in Mexico City and painted murals across Mexico, Europe, and the US including several for the City of Los Angeles. 

Armando Campero's mural, "El Mexicano-Americano Ayer, Ahora, Manana" in the East Los Angeles Public Library. Source: Mural Conservancy of Los Angeles

I met Armando in the 80s. At the time, I was president of Los Hambriados, a philanthropic organization of Mexican businessmen in Los Angeles. The organization raised funds to support La Casa Hogar Madre Luisita, an orphanage in Atotoninco, Jalisco, and provided scholarships for hispanics in Los Angeles. We held our meetings at La Fonda every Tuesday, a restaurant famous for hosting some of the best mariachis in the world. At one of these meetings, a friend introduced me to Campero. We quickly became friends who shared a love of horse racing and together we frequented races at Santa Anita Park; although, I must admit, Aramando was never particularly lucky at picking winning horses. In our years of friendship, I purchased many of his paintings including pieces inspired by Don Quixote, portrayals of the Virgin Mary, and kids, a common theme in his work where he sought to capture the innocence of children.

Los Hambriados in 1988 at La Fonda during a Christmas party. I am standing to the right side of the gentleman at the center of the image

Armando and I met at Que Ricos where I showed him the wall where I wanted a mural. He agreed to take on the project and over the following two months he painted the mural on canvas in his studio. When he finished the piece, we met at Que Ricos where he brought his mural for me to see for the first time. I didn't know until then that Armando had painted a 40 ft by 5 ft mural. I was amazed to see how enormous and vibrant of a scene he created. In it, he captured the experience of being in a Mexican market, a piece I felt was perfect for the atmosphere we wanted to curate in Que Ricos.

A piece of the mural in the original Que Ricos. The Guadalajara Cathedral can be seen in the background

Campero drew inspiration for the mural from the The Burrón Family, a Mexican comic series that tells stories of a lower-class family's life in a working-class neighborhood. The scale of the mural immerses you into the scene where you can observe everyday life in Mexico. When Que Ricos opened, it was one of few taquerias in the San Fernando Valley. When our guests came to Que Ricos the visual of the mural, combined with the smells of freshly grilled meats, and the sounds of spatulas hitting the grill would transport them back to their hometowns in Mexico. Art is very important in Mexican culture especially for immigrants to remember their country. Many of our customers, at the time, were immigrants who couldn't go back to Mexico to visit their hometowns and families. For them, the mural reminded them of being in Mexico bringing families and the neighborhood together to eat. 

Armando Campero's signature on the mural: "Para Gustavo Castillo Ex-Presidente de Los Hambriados. Gacho Amigo"

While this mural no longer hangs in any of our locations, seeing it fills my family and me with nostalgia. For me, it triggers memories of getting Que Ricos up and running, of seeing my kids grow up in the restaurant. Today, we still work with local artists to create original pieces for all our locations so we can share our culture through both food and art.

The final two parts of the mural; in total the whole mural was displayed together and measured over 40 ft long