Real Mex Restaurants is the parent company for several chains of full-service Mexican restaurants in the United States. The company is headquartered in Cypress, California, and operates more than 120 full service Mexican restaurants under eight brand names.[1]
History
The company claims its origin to Larry Cano who, in 1954 with the opening of the first El Torito restaurant, which expanded into a chain. Another origin was the founding of Acapulco Mexican Restaurant and Cantina in 1960. In 1998, Acapulco became owned by the private equity firm Bruckmann, Rosser, Sherrill & Co.,[2] which expanded it into Real Mex Restaurants, acquiring El Torito, Chevy's Fresh Mex and other Mexican full-service chains.[3] The company's reach is now nationwide, and the company claims to be the largest Mexican restaurant chain in the United States.[4]
In October 2011, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.[5] In February 2012, it was sold to a group of debt holders.[6] The company is now owned by an investment group that includes Z Capital Partners.[7]
Real Mex Restaurants portfolio includes: El Torito, Acapulco Mexican Restaurant and Cantina, Chevy's Fresh Mex, El Paso Cantina, Who Song and Larry's and the Southern California landmark Las Brisas of Laguna Beach.
External links
References
- Home page Real Mex Restaurants, retrieved 5 October 2014^
- Andy Battaglia. Acapulco restarts its engine, revs up for growth after 8 years in low gear. Nation's Restaurant News, March 13, 2000, retrieved 5 October 2014^
- Real Mex Restaurants, Inc. Bloomberg Businessweek, retrieved 5 October 2014^
- About Us Real Mex Restaurants, retrieved 5 October 2014^
- Jaqueline Palank. Real Mex Restaurants Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy The Wall Street Journal, 4 October 2011, retrieved 4 October 2014^
- Laurence Darmiento. Real Mex Approves Sale to Debt Holders Los Angeles Business Journal, 8 February 2012, retrieved 4 October 2014^
- Real Mex Restaurants, Inc. Company Profile Hoovers, retrieved 5 October 2014^