Casa Bonita Has Left the Building

[Cats Cats Cats]

I think that he's a little too north east for this Mexican concept to work again..you gotta put them where all the white people are that like medicore semi chain Mexican food and cheesy decor..like Jenks or Broken Arrow....

Wow.. you just described Los Cabos

[sgrizzle]

Nah, CB is a destination place. For that kinda bank you could open it downtown where people won't mind paying $12 for cheap buffet food (or $9 for a sandwich)

[zstyles]

Wow.. you just described Los Cabos

Exactly my point lol

[Conan71]

Nah, CB is a destination place. For that kinda bank you could open it downtown where people won't mind paying $12 for cheap buffet food (or $9 for a sandwich)

Be a good fit with Spaghetti Whorehouse.

[Cats Cats Cats]

I don't' see why that huge building is needed... Seems like a smaller place would work better.  Obviously mega buffet isn't where its at.

[sgrizzle]

I don't' see why that huge building is needed... Seems like a smaller place would work better.  Obviously mega buffet isn't where its at.

So they can have all of the themed areas.

Good planning can do multiple themed areas for less cost if they want to seat less than 1,000

[Conan71]

No building is needed if you crave the food.  Just go buy the El Chico brand Mexican food at the store in a box or can, a jar of Pace, a can of pickled jalapenos, and a bag of Tostitos.  Same difference.

The "cool" factor the place had for years was the cave and treasure room as well as giving you the feeling of dining under the stars somewhere in Mexico.  The one in Denver was even cooler with the cliff divers off the waterfall.  Far as I know that was one of the earlier examples of a truly "themed" restaurant.  I believe CB first opened in Tulsa around 1971.  Back then, it was white people's interpretation of Mexican food before family-owned smaller Mexican restaurants started sprouting up everywhere to give us an appreciation of authentic Mexican cuisine.

[OpenYourEyesTulsa]

South Park did an episode about Casa Bonita.  Cartman refers to it as the "Mexican Disneyland".

http://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/176600/less-than-a-minute

[stageidea]

Certainly, one of my favorite South Park Episodes.  

Tulsa hasn't been very successful with family fun retail locations over the past decade.  Celebration Station, Bell's, Casa Bonita, Crystal's Pizza, Golf World, etc.

[Conan71]

Certainly, one of my favorite South Park Episodes.  

Tulsa hasn't been very successful with family fun retail locations over the past decade.  Celebration Station, Bell's, Casa Bonita, Crystal's Pizza, Golf World, etc.

But somehow Inedible Pizza has done well.

Bell's, Celbration Station, and Golf World all kind of got lost to development or the black hand in Bell's case 

I ran into Robbie Bell at lunch recently.  He said they don't have the money and no one will lend them the money to re-build so I believe Bell's is officially a memory not to return.

[Hoss]

But somehow Inedible Pizza has done well.

Bell's, Celbration Station, and Golf World all kind of got lost to development or the black hand in Bell's case 

I ran into Robbie Bell at lunch recently.  He said they don't have the money and no one will lend them the money to re-build so I believe Bell's is officially a memory not to return.

As much as I dislike Robbie from years past, I'm sad about that.

[Conan71]

As much as I dislike Robbie from years past, I'm sad about that.

He's now employed as a security guard and the stress looks like it's been hard on him.  IIRC, he's about 6 months older than me but you'd easily guess he's 10 years older.

[sgrizzle]

He's now employed as a security guard and the stress looks like it's been hard on him.  IIRC, he's about 6 months older than me but you'd easily guess he's 10 years older.

He looks 72?

[sgrizzle]

But somehow Inedible Pizza has done well.

Bell's, Celbration Station, and Golf World all kind of got lost to development or the black hand in Bell's case  

I ran into Robbie Bell at lunch recently.  He said they don't have the money and no one will lend them the money to re-build so I believe Bell's is officially a memory not to return.

Incredible Pizza took the formula and did it well. They don't overcharge for games, let you come and go from your seats, and prizes aren't all complete crap. They also have different activities for different age ranges. I drove by there earlier and saw at least a dozen buses in the parking lot.

[guido911]

He looks 72?