The Last Monterey House is Closing

[58limited]

Those who lived in or grew up in Texas, Oklahoma, or Louisiana may remember a TexMex chain called Monterey House. I have many fond memories eating there in the North Dallas area when I was a kid, late 1970s and early 1980s.

Turns out the last one using the original name was only a few miles up the road from me in Beaumont. The LeJeune family opened a franchise in 1963 and it is officially closing tomorrow. Same story: younger generation doesn't want to take over. I got off work early and went straight there to beat the after work crowd and was welcomed with a "Ran Out Of Food" sign - big lunch rush to get that "Last Meal". From what I've heard, they are not going to try and restock for tomorrow so they are now closed for good.

I remember that when they brought the chips and salsa out there was one piece of Mexican candy on top. Me and my sisters always fought over it.

[Carolyn]

I never heard of this restaurant. Sounds like a good many people will miss it.

[Jerod Broussard]

My mom is a LeJeune.....no one sent me a memo.

[Michael_in_TX]

I vaguely remember this place and the candy thing. Apparently there used to be 44 of them in the Houston area.

[HawkerXP]

[LA Pork Butt]

That story is familiar to Chinese restaurants. I’ve read that the parents have worked hard and sent their kids to college, and now the kids want no part of the business. The restaurant business is long hours and hard work.

[jayjordan]

Yep. And the old joke "how do you end up with a million dollars in the restaurant business? Start with three million dollars."

[jfmorris]

Too many family owned businesses are like this. It happened with a company my dad spent almost 40 years of his career helping build. As the owners aged into their 80's and 90's, not a SINGLE one of either of their kids (and they each had both sons and daughters) had any interest in running a business with 5-6 million a year in sales. My dad ran things for them, and when he retired at age 75, in less than a year the doors were closed, designs and patents with my dad's name on them sold to a competitor, and assets being liquidated.

[Purc]

The family legacy is gone. What a shame but I sort of understand.