Casa Guadalajara is celebrating its 20th anniversary next week! While many San Diegan’s have come to call the restaurant their favorite San Diego Mexican dining destination, we bet few remember how Casa Guadalajara came to be. In honor of the milestone, here’s a little history behind the Old Town icon:

Casa Guadalajara was once known as Romaine’s Guadalajara Grill. Upon discovering that Romaine’s former owner intended to cut down a majestic, 250-year-old California Pepper tree on the property to make way for a parking lot, Diane Powers purchased the land and transformed the restaurant into Casa Guadalajara – saving the tree and making it the focal point of the restaurant’s festive courtyard. Casa Guadalajara officially re-opened for business on June 12, 1995.

The tree isn’t the only thing that has been around since Casa Guadalajara’s beginning. Head Chef Jose Duran and General Manager Filiberto Horta joined Powers’ team in 1995 and have been working together ever since. Long-time guests of Casa Guadalajara might also notice that several of the servers and other staff members have been working at the restaurant for 10 years or more.

To celebrate the occasion, Powers and Casa Guadalajara will be throwing a week-long fiesta, with special entertainment including Folklorico dancers, strolling troubadours and mariachis, and special promotions. Starting Monday through Thursday, June 22 to 25, from 4 to 7 p.m., a special “Happier Hour” will take place in the Garden Room with tequila vendors on hand to present a special seminar. Thursday and Friday, June 25 and 26, will feature a special “throwback” menu with five favorite dishes that date back to the original menu, each with a 20 percent discount, and a commemorative T-shirt giveaway provided by Casamigos Tequila.

Come join the party and see why Casa Guadalajara has been a San Diego favorite for the last 20 years!