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==History==
==History==
El Torito was founded in 1954 by Larry J. Cano.<ref name="two">OC Weekly. "[http://www.ocweekly.com/2011-01-06/food/larry-j-cano-el-torito-founder/ El Torito Founder Is Still the Big Enchilada] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120818120752/http://www.ocweekly.com/2011-01-06/food/larry-j-cano-el-torito-founder/ |date=2012-08-18 }}." January 6, 2011.</ref> Cano had served tours in the U.S Army in [[Europe]] and [[Korea]], earned a business degree and worked tending bar. In 1954 he was managing a Polynesian restaurant. When the restaurant’s owner died, his widow gave Cano the restaurant. He began serving Mexican food at the restaurant and it became the first El Torito. Cano, at one point began struggling financially and moved into the restaurant.<ref name="two"/>
El Torito was founded in 1954 by Larry J. Cano.<ref name="two">OC Weekly. "[http://www.ocweekly.com/2011-01-06/food/larry-j-cano-el-torito-founder/ El Torito Founder Is Still the Big Enchilada] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120818120752/http://www.ocweekly.com/2011-01-06/food/larry-j-cano-el-torito-founder/ |date=2012-08-18 }}." January 6, 2011.</ref> Cano had served tours in the U.S Army in [[Europe]] and [[Korea]], earned a business degree and worked tending bar. In 1954, he was the manager of a Polynesian restaurant. When the restaurant’s owner died, his widow passed ownership on to Cano. He began serving Mexican food at the restaurant, and it became the first El Torito. At one point, Cano began struggling financially and moved into the restaurant.<ref name="two"/>


Within three years the restaurant became successful, and Cano opened additional locations. By 1976 he had 20 locations, and sold the business to [[W. R. Grace and Company]] for about $20 million. They hired Cano as the president with a directive for rapid expansion.<ref name="two"/>
Within three years the restaurant became successful, and Cano opened additional locations. By 1976, he had 20 locations, and sold the business to [[W. R. Grace and Company]] for about $20 million. They hired Cano as the president with a directive for rapid expansion.<ref name="two"/>


Grace sold its restaurants in a leveraged buyout in 1986. The resulting firm, Restaurant Enterprises Group, Inc. (REGI), filed for bankruptcy in 1993. REGI was acquired out of bankruptcy in 1994 by Foodmaker, who renamed itself Family Restaurants, then Koo Koo Roo Enterprises, then Prandium. In 2000, [[Acapulco Mexican Restaurant and Cantina|Acapulco]] bought El Torito from Prandium.<ref>[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-mar-29-fi-13752-story.html Acapulco Chain Owner to Buy El Torito]</ref> Acapulco renamed its parent company to [[Real Mex Restaurants]] in 2004 and moved the headquarters to [[Cypress, California]].<ref name="two"/>
Grace sold its restaurants in a leveraged buyout in 1986. The resulting firm, Restaurant Enterprises Group, Inc. (REGI), filed for bankruptcy in 1993. In 1994, REGI was acquired out of bankruptcy by Foodmaker, who renamed itself to Family Restaurants, then Koo Koo Roo Enterprises, then Prandium. In 2000, [[Acapulco Mexican Restaurant and Cantina|Acapulco]] bought El Torito from Prandium.<ref>[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-mar-29-fi-13752-story.html Acapulco Chain Owner to Buy El Torito]</ref> Acapulco renamed its parent company to [[Real Mex Restaurants]] in 2004 and moved the headquarters to [[Cypress, California]].<ref name="two"/>


In February 1994, engineers working on an [[El Torito (CD-ROM standard)|extension of the CD-ROM specification]] visited El Torito in Irvine and later named the specification after the restaurant.<ref name="Parker">{{ cite news | last = Parker | first = Dana J. | title = Fresh Tortillas and CD-ROM Standards: The El Torito Bootable CD-ROM Specification | periodical = CD-ROM Professional | volume = 8 | issue = 7 | url = http://www.cdpage.com/Compact_Disc_Variations/danaboot.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/19991008045553/http://www.cdpage.com/Compact_Disc_Variations/danaboot.html | access-date = 2008-01-31 | archive-date = 1999-10-08 }}</ref>
In February 1994, engineers working on an [[El Torito (CD-ROM standard)|extension of the CD-ROM specification]] visited El Torito in Irvine and later named the specification after the restaurant.<ref name="Parker">{{ cite news | last = Parker | first = Dana J. | title = Fresh Tortillas and CD-ROM Standards: The El Torito Bootable CD-ROM Specification | periodical = CD-ROM Professional | volume = 8 | issue = 7 | url = http://www.cdpage.com/Compact_Disc_Variations/danaboot.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/19991008045553/http://www.cdpage.com/Compact_Disc_Variations/danaboot.html | access-date = 2008-01-31 | url-status = usurped | archive-date = 1999-10-08 }}</ref>


On October 3, 2011, Real Mex Restaurants filed for [[Chapter 11]] bankruptcy and announced that it was putting itself up for sale, citing the poor economy as a reason. No plans were announced to close restaurants or layoff staff.<ref name="Ch11">{{cite web|url=http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Owner-of-Restaurante-Chains-Files-for-Bankruptcy-131058043.html|title=Chevy's, Acapulco Chains File for Bankruptcy|last=Sharron|first=Bernstein|date=2011-10-04|accessdate=2011-10-04}}</ref> It was acquired by a group of its noteholders in a bankruptcy auction in 2012.<ref>[http://nrn.com/article/bankruptcy-court-approves-129m-sale-real-mex Bankruptcy court approves Real Mex sale]</ref>
On October 3, 2011, Real Mex Restaurants filed for [[Chapter 11]] bankruptcy and announced that it was putting itself up for sale, citing the poor economy. No plans were announced to close restaurants or layoff staff.<ref name="Ch11">{{cite web|url=http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Owner-of-Restaurante-Chains-Files-for-Bankruptcy-131058043.html|title=Chevy's, Acapulco Chains File for Bankruptcy|last=Sharron|first=Bernstein|date=2011-10-04|accessdate=2011-10-04}}</ref> It was acquired by a group of its noteholders in a bankruptcy auction in 2012.<ref>[http://nrn.com/article/bankruptcy-court-approves-129m-sale-real-mex Bankruptcy court approves Real Mex sale]</ref>


In 2018, FM Restaurants HoldCo, LLC acquired Real Mex Restaurants out of bankruptcy and begun operating under Xperience Restaurant Group led by Randy Sharpe, former vice president of operations of the El Torito division. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Taylor |first=Rachel |title=Real Mex Restaurants Rebrands After Acquisition by Z Capital |url=https://www.fsrmagazine.com/emerging-brands/real-mex-restaurants-rebrands-after-acquisition-z-capital |access-date=2022-10-03 |website=FSR magazine |date=31 October 2018 |language=en}}</ref> In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the group begun renovating 19 of their 31 locations in Southern California. <ref>{{Cite web |title=Newly Renovated Locations |url=https://www.eltorito.com/newly-renovated-el-torito-restaurants/ |access-date=2022-10-03 |website=El Torito |language=en-US}}</ref>
In 2018, FM Restaurants HoldCo, LLC acquired Real Mex Restaurants out of bankruptcy and begun operating under Xperience Restaurant Group led by Randy Sharpe, former vice president of operations of the El Torito division.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Taylor |first=Rachel |title=Real Mex Restaurants Rebrands After Acquisition by Z Capital |url=https://www.fsrmagazine.com/emerging-brands/real-mex-restaurants-rebrands-after-acquisition-z-capital |access-date=2022-10-03 |website=FSR magazine |date=31 October 2018 |language=en}}</ref> In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the group begun renovating 19 of their 31 locations in Southern California.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Newly Renovated Locations |url=https://www.eltorito.com/newly-renovated-el-torito-restaurants/ |access-date=2022-10-03 |website=El Torito |language=en-US}}</ref>


==References==
==References==

Latest revision as of 06:34, 2 September 2025

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El Torito (Spanish for "the little bull") is an American chain that serves Mexican food. El Torito operates 25 restaurants all in California.[1] El Torito is one of several Mexican cuisine restaurant chains operated by Xperience Restaurant Group.

Founded in 1954, El Torito claims to be "a pioneer in the California full service Mexican casual dining restaurant segment".[1]

History

El Torito was founded in 1954 by Larry J. Cano.[2] Cano had served tours in the U.S Army in Europe and Korea, earned a business degree and worked tending bar. In 1954, he was the manager of a Polynesian restaurant. When the restaurant’s owner died, his widow passed ownership on to Cano. He began serving Mexican food at the restaurant, and it became the first El Torito. At one point, Cano began struggling financially and moved into the restaurant.[2]

Within three years the restaurant became successful, and Cano opened additional locations. By 1976, he had 20 locations, and sold the business to W. R. Grace and Company for about $20 million. They hired Cano as the president with a directive for rapid expansion.[2]

Grace sold its restaurants in a leveraged buyout in 1986. The resulting firm, Restaurant Enterprises Group, Inc. (REGI), filed for bankruptcy in 1993. In 1994, REGI was acquired out of bankruptcy by Foodmaker, who renamed itself to Family Restaurants, then Koo Koo Roo Enterprises, then Prandium. In 2000, Acapulco bought El Torito from Prandium.[3] Acapulco renamed its parent company to Real Mex Restaurants in 2004 and moved the headquarters to Cypress, California.[2]

In February 1994, engineers working on an extension of the CD-ROM specification visited El Torito in Irvine and later named the specification after the restaurant.[4]

On October 3, 2011, Real Mex Restaurants filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and announced that it was putting itself up for sale, citing the poor economy. No plans were announced to close restaurants or layoff staff.[5] It was acquired by a group of its noteholders in a bankruptcy auction in 2012.[6]

In 2018, FM Restaurants HoldCo, LLC acquired Real Mex Restaurants out of bankruptcy and begun operating under Xperience Restaurant Group led by Randy Sharpe, former vice president of operations of the El Torito division.[7] In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the group begun renovating 19 of their 31 locations in Southern California.[8]

References

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  1. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  2. ↑ a b c d OC Weekly. "El Torito Founder Is Still the Big Enchilada Template:Webarchive." January 6, 2011.
  3. ↑ Acapulco Chain Owner to Buy El Torito
  4. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  5. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  6. ↑ Bankruptcy court approves Real Mex sale
  7. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  8. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

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