{{Short description|Company based in Orange County, California}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2014}} {{Infobox company | name = Real Mex Restaurants | logo = | industry = Restaurant / Mexican | founded = {{start date and age|1954|1|1}}{{cn||date=October 2018}} | defunct = October 27, 2018 | location = [[Cypress, California]], United States | key_people = Brian Lockwood (President, CEO) | founder = Larry Cano | website = {{URL|http://www.realmexrestaurants.com}} }} '''Real Mex Restaurants''' is the parent company for several [[Chain restaurant|chains]] of full-service [[Mexican cuisine|Mexican restaurants]] in the United States. The company is headquartered in [[Cypress, California]], and operates more than 120 full service Mexican restaurants under eight brand names.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://realmexrestaurants.com/|title=Home page|work=Real Mex Restaurants|accessdate=5 October 2014|archive-date=March 14, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140314203836/http://realmexrestaurants.com/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==History== The company claims its origin to [[Larry Cano]] who, in 1954 with the opening of the first [[El Torito]] restaurant, which expanded into a chain. Another origin was the founding of [[Acapulco Mexican Restaurant and Cantina]] in 1960. In 1998, Acapulco became owned by the private equity firm [[Bruckmann, Rosser, Sherrill & Co.]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://business.highbeam.com/409700/article-1G1-60903504/acapulco-restarts-its-engine-revs-up-growth-after-8|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808043500/http://business.highbeam.com/409700/article-1G1-60903504/acapulco-restarts-its-engine-revs-up-growth-after-8|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 8, 2014|title=Acapulco restarts its engine, revs up for growth after 8 years in low gear.|last=Battaglia|first=Andy|date=March 13, 2000|work=Nation's Restaurant News|accessdate=5 October 2014}}</ref> which expanded it into Real Mex Restaurants, acquiring [[El Torito]], [[Chevy's Fresh Mex]] and other Mexican full-service chains.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=8034332|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090318214512/http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=8034332|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 18, 2009|title=Real Mex Restaurants, Inc.|work=Bloomberg Businessweek|accessdate=5 October 2014}}</ref> The company's reach is now nationwide, and the company claims to be the largest Mexican restaurant chain in the United States.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://realmexrestaurants.com/about-us-page-snippet/|title=About Us|work=Real Mex Restaurants|accessdate=5 October 2014|archive-date=October 6, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006001459/http://realmexrestaurants.com/about-us-page-snippet/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
In October 2011, the company filed for [[Chapter 11 bankruptcy]].<ref name=WSJ.Palank>{{cite news|last1=Palank|first1=Jaqueline|title=Real Mex Restaurants Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy|url=https://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052970204524604576610763988754984|accessdate=4 October 2014|newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|date=4 October 2011}}</ref> In February 2012, it was sold to a group of debt holders.<ref name=LABJ.Darmiento>{{cite news|last1=Darmiento|first1=Laurence|title=Real Mex Approves Sale to Debt Holders|url=http://labusinessjournal.com/news/2012/feb/08/real-mex-approves-sale-debt-holders/|accessdate=4 October 2014|publisher=[[Los Angeles Business Journal]]|date=8 February 2012}}</ref> The company is now owned by an investment group that includes Z Capital Partners.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hoovers.com/company-information/cs/company-profile.Real_Mex_Restaurants_Inc.76c1ddecb778e0b8.html|title=Real Mex Restaurants, Inc. Company Profile|work=Hoovers|accessdate=5 October 2014}}</ref>
Real Mex Restaurants portfolio includes: [[El Torito]], [[Acapulco Mexican Restaurant and Cantina]], [[Chevy's Fresh Mex]], El Paso Cantina, Who Song and Larry's and the Southern California landmark Las Brisas of Laguna Beach.
== References == {{Reflist|30em}}
== External links == {{Portal|Greater Los Angeles|Companies|Food}} *{{Official website|http://www.realmexrestaurants.com}}
[[Category:Companies based in Orange County, California]] [[Category:Restaurant chains in the United States]] [[Category:Private equity portfolio companies]] [[Category:Mexican-American cuisine]] [[Category:Mexican restaurants]] [[Category:Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2011]] [[Category:Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2018]]