ABOUT US
Growing up, Saturdays were special. My dad would wake us up early by opening the curtains and saying, “Rise and shine!” We could already smell the bacon, fried potatoes, and green chili waiting for us in the kitchen.
Both my mom and dad made the best chili — each unique and both unforgettable. We will always remember the flavor, aroma and tradition.
Dad would always pack burritos for lunch. When he came home from work, my siblings and I would race outside to greet him—because whoever got there first got the leftovers from his lunchbox. Those moments, and the taste of his chili, became part of our family’s story. They taught me how to make the perfect chili and showed me their secret ingredients.
Years later, I wanted to share it with everyone. My daughter joined me in the kitchen—peeling potatoes, cooking beans, and helping prepare the burritos we sold to friends, family, and local businesses. People loved them so much that they encouraged us to open a food trailer. We found one and set it up on a busy corner in Salida, Colorado. We called it Chico’s. We had my son and his friend stand by the highway in Mexican hats and serapes, waving at passing cars. We even had a miniature horse giving free rides to kids while their parents ate. The trailer was a hit.
With the success of our trailer, we opened Chico’s Mexican Food downtown. To make it easy and consistent for our cooks, I began packaging my chili spices in baggies. Customers loved our flavor and encouraged us to sell it separately. I realized how many spices I needed to bring out every time I made chili. I decided to create my own blends. That’s when Chico’s Chili & Spices truly began.
My daughter and I rented a kitchen, bought supplies, and did everything by hand—measuring, sealing, and labeling every bag. Eventually, we partnered with a spice company and label company to bottle our blends professionally. My dream was to see Chico’s on grocery store shelves. With persistence, I got my foot in the door—first through local managers who let me demonstrate my product in stores, then through corporate approvals. By 2014, Chico’s Chili & Spices was in 21 stores across Colorado, including Greeley and Colorado Springs, with nine products on the shelves.
For personal reasons, I had to close the business for a while. But people never stopped calling and asking for Chico’s spices. In April 2023, I reinstated Chico’s Chili & Spices LLC because I’ve never stopped believing in my products. Life can knock you down, but you have to get back up and try again. With the support of my family and community, I’m bringing Chico’s back—stronger, wiser, and ready to share the authentic flavors that started it all.
Authentic Mexican Flavor – A Family Tradition.
CHICO'S RESTAURANT SIGN
