| Casa Bonita began back in the early 70s as | | | | lines and direct every movement. There is solid |
| Denver’s first “themed” restaurant | | | | reasoning for this. Not only does it better control |
| developed around the idea of creating a Mexican | | | | large numbers, but, for the kids, it is just like being in |
| village where people could eat, be entertained, and | | | | school, just like what they face every day, and just |
| “sight see” just as if they were in another | | | | like what they are used to doing day in and day |
| country. In fact, I can remember our entire High | | | | out. Kids feel comfortable in what they |
| School Spanish department loading all the school’s | | | | understand. Since you and I may not especially |
| students of Spanish into school busses for a field trip | | | | enjoy that kind of treatment, Casa Bonita provides |
| to have lunch at the restaurant shortly after it first | | | | the sensory stimulation that entertains your children |
| opened for business. There was a lot of | | | | and helps ensure they beg you to bring them back |
| excitement surrounding the opening and the new | | | | to the skits, the puppet shows, the music and that |
| restaurant did not disappoint. In the beginning, it | | | | restaurant “playhouse” that is so much fun |
| really conveyed the feel of another culture and | | | | for them. Even the food is geared toward the |
| offered a unique, special, dining experience. | | | | developing, young taste buds of children. After all, |
| Outside, the building looks like a huge, old Spanish | | | | who but a child would think that a variant form of |
| Mission, complete with the statue of an Aztec-looking | | | | Cheez Whiz would be nice not only in the enchilada, |
| warrior atop a once gold dome. Visitors walk | | | | but generally gooped all around it on the plate as |
| through wood and iron doors, and down hallways of | | | | well? In a sense, Casa Bonita is not quite |
| white stucco made to resemble adobe as if they | | | | Eltich’s, but still a step above Chuck E. Cheese |
| were traveling through some unknown Latin village. | | | | with food something like “Elf” would |
| With seating for over 1,000, the restaurant is divided | | | | appreciate. Casa Bonita is a place where kids can |
| into a number of different, themed sections located | | | | dine out with their parents, eat food geared more |
| around an open villa with a central waterfall. Some | | | | toward their juvenile tastes and not have to act like |
| people would probably pay admission just to look | | | | adults the entire evening. It is a good marketing |
| around, and that is exactly what is required. No one | | | | concept especially since it does not entirely exclude |
| older than age two is admitted without buying a | | | | adults. Casa Bonita offers a variety of alcoholic |
| meal. In a cross between an amusement park and a | | | | beverages served in a comfortable environment to |
| cafeteria, diners pick up trays and follow a conveyor | | | | help anesthetize you while your children play. |
| system that ends in the middle of a plaza where | | | | It is true that most people would not pay Casa |
| they wait to be seated. It truly is a mini vacation | | | | Bonita prices for a similar product anywhere else, but |
| and a sensory experience but after visitors see it | | | | part of the price is for the entertainment, for the |
| once or twice, there really is not much to keep them | | | | unique environment and for the babysitting of your |
| coming back. In fact, many of the derogatory | | | | kids. When you consider what it costs just to get |
| comments about the restaurant, its value and its | | | | into Elitch’s and how much more you might pay |
| food directly relate to this fact. | | | | for games at Chuck E. Cheese, Casa Bonita begins to |
| Back in the beginning, the food was comparable to | | | | look like a better value. Sure, it would be nice if |
| other Mexican restaurants, came in a nice | | | | they had upscale Mexican food, but that is not likely |
| presentation, and they even used real cheese. That | | | | to happen. They will always make more money |
| changed when Casa Bonita realized the novelty of | | | | catering to your kids than they will catering to you. |
| their restaurant would wear off eventually and they | | | | If you want better Mexican food, go somewhere |
| would have to change. They knew they needed to | | | | else. If you want to make your kids smile, let them |
| adjust their entire business plan to succeed and | | | | play at Casa Bonita while you nurse a liter of |
| decided to focus more on entertaining the kids than | | | | Margaritas. Remember, Casa Bonita is for kids. |
| attracting their parents. Once you understand this, | | | | The margaritas are for you. |
| the rest makes a lot of business sense. | | | | |
| They herd people cafeteria-style, single-file through | | | | . |