Casa Molina Stands the Test of Time, Taste
Monday, 25 January 2010 21:11
Still situated in its original location, the well-known Tucson restaurant Casa Molina, 6225 E. Speedway Blvd., has come a long way from the days when it had only six tables.
The business opened its doors in 1947 when the late Gilbert Molina Sr., a rancher turned restaurateur, decided to build a restaurant for his sister, Maria Molina, who loved to cook traditional Sonoran food.
Today, Molina's daughter-in-law, Lupita Molina, and three of his grandchildren run the original family-owned restaurant, said Angie Molina Lord, Molina's granddaughter.
Gilbert Molina Jr., Lord's uncle, owns and manages the other two Casa Molina locations in Tucson with his family.
The Molina family has not only increased the number of Casa Molina restaurants in Tucson, but the original location has expanded in size since it first opened, Lord said.
"My grandfather, my father and my uncles kept adding on to the building over the years," Lord said. "In the 1950s and 1960s they added the bar and the adobe patio. We've expanded quite a bit, but the main dining area is still the original building."
The restaurant that once served only up to 16 customers at once with Maria Molina's traditional Sonoran recipes now comfortably accommodates more than 300 diners.
"When my grandfather opened in 1947 it was just him, my grandmother and Maria in the kitchen, and maybe a few other helpers," Lord said. "Now, we have a butcher, a main chef and at least 15 cooks who work in the kitchen."
The three-page menu still offers all of Maria's original recipes, Lord said, but they have added many dishes to the list. 
"We are best known for our margaritas and the carne seca," Lord said. "People come from all over for the margaritas, which just have tequila, triple sec and lime juice, but people love them," she exclaimed.
After eating at the restaurant at least once a day for many years, Lord admitted to getting tired of the food but promises that they offer great food that keeps many long-time customers coming back for more.
"Customers come in who knew me from when I was a little girl," said Lord, who started working in the restaurant as a cashier at age 14. "I was born into this. I've never known anything different. I've always done this and we always knew we would take over because [my father] would say, 'When we're gone, it's yours.'"
Lord has watched the restaurant evolve and she has also witnessed many new Mexican restaurants open in Tucson, but she believes Casa Molina stands out.
"A lot of people think of [Casa Molina] as a landmark and we have a lot of regulars, a lot of families who have been coming consistently for years," Lord said. "The bull statue outside is also something people remember us for."
Though the official symbol of the restaurant is the sun, many of the decorations include paintings or statues of bulls. The restaurant also has custom-made furniture, hand painted cooking tools, light fixtures imported from Mexico and an elaborate stone fountain on the patio. The décor provides an authentic Mexican ambiance for the diners.
The extended Molina family owns a total of seven restaurants in Tucson, including the three Casa Molina locations, three El Molinito restaurants and La Casita de Molina.
Written by Jackie Smith You are reading Casa Molina Stands the Test of Time, Taste articles
News
- Tucson Reacts to TUSD Mexican-American Studies Elimination
- Bombing Range Offers Pristine Wilderness
- Alla Frefer: A Libyan-American Experience
- The Gangs of Tucson
- Local Group Asks Residents for City Planning Advice
- 2011 Democratic Election Night Party Live Coverage
- Tucson Elections
- Immigration live blog
Culture
People
Education
Health
Sports
- Former UA Tennis Player Redirects His Passion for the Game
- Soccer: The New Flavor of Tucson Sports
- 2012 FC Tucson Desert Diamond Cup Kick Off
- International Student-Athletes, Bringing More Than Just Competition
- Bikes across borders
- Vacation for Both Sides of the Border
- International Athletes at the UA
- International Tennis Seniors' Final Homestand
Food
- Sushi Chef: Noboru Nakajima
- A Tortilla-Making Family Tradition
- Pin-up Pastries Enjoys Huge Success at Tucson Meet Yourself
- Tucson Eat Yourself: El Guero Canelo
- Tamales for Local Happiness
- A Festival Full of Culture
- Food Vendors Caught on Camera
- Pin-Up Serving Attractive Pastries at Tucson Meet Yourself
Twitter Updates
Related Items
Who's Online
We have 23 guests onlineBorder Beat Blogs
By: Alexandra Newman
This blog compares Mexican and American women in terms of their culture's beauty ideals and traditional gender roles.
By: Audrey A. Fitzsimmons
The Southwest boasts of diverse ethnic backgrounds and a wealth of interesting personalities. Border Personalities is dedicated to the people of the Southwest and their stories.
By: Brett Haupt
A visual exploration of America’s last frontier -- pictures and videos from different areas of the wall and fence that separate two different worlds and insight into what really stands between the United States and Mexico, ramifications of wall building and what it means for the average citizen.
By: Charles Misra
Stories about martial arts and combat sports with a cultural twist, all finding a home in America's southwestern borderlands.
Culture CrossingBy: Chelsey Barthel
American borders are crossed every day by cultures of all kind. These stories tell the personal experiences of people from different lands, offering further insight into the difference of cultures.
By: Emily Kjesbo
Spotlighting Mexico’s top travel destinations, as well as a few of its hidden gems.
By: Hope Jamieson
Explore dance throughout the borderlands.
Border PeopleBy: Jamie Turow
Profiles of English language learners.
MLS Soccer comes to the DesertBy: Jeff Kessler
All about the 2012 Desert Diamond Cup, a 10 day exhibition soccer tournament featuring four Major League Soccor teams coming to Tucson.By: Jessica Hoerth
Meet some of the people in Tucson who have made the journey across the border as they share what they came in search of and what struggles they may have encountered along the way.
Border ShotsBy: Keith Perfetti
A photojournalist looks at how other photographers have viewed the border and shoots lesser known spots of the southwest.
By: Lauren Inouye
A look at Mexican and Latin films that reflect culture, politics, and society -- reviews, research and analysis.
By: Lauren Urratio
Fashion and how it is impacted by the border and international cultures.
Border AthletesBy: Lauren Sokol
Meet international student athletes at the University of Arizona, a look at the recruiting process that helped them find a temporary home in the desert, and culture changes that the athletes might have endured.
Public Safety and Crime near the U.S./Mexico Border
By: Lucy Valencia
Public safety along the border and any crime-related issues. A look at issues that occur within the justice system when Mexican and U.S. laws overlap.
A City of Musical DiversityBy: Maria Teracena
Tucson musicians influence and are influenced by the sounds of the world.
The Border ProjectBy: Melissa Guz
"The Border Project" is an art showcase located in the University of Arizona's Museum of Art. It has over 40+ art pieces related to border issues.
Athletics and the BorderBy: Preston Fawcett
Get to know high school coachs and athletes from Arizona border towns or from Mexico and their struggles to get to where they are.
A Mosaic AmericaBy: Rachel Kolinski
"Exploring Diversity one Face at a Time"
Educación en la FronteraBy: Shannon Maule
A look at higher education in regard to those who have and have not been able to travel from various countries to the United States. Stories from people in the higher education world relating to the border.
Music of the BorderBy: Steven Schiraldi
Music reviews of musical works by Mexican or other ethnic artists.