# Real Mex Restaurants

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Company based in Orange County, California

Real Mex Restaurants Industry Restaurant / Mexican Founded January 1, 1954; 72 years ago (1954-01-01)[citation needed] Founder Larry Cano Defunct October 27, 2018 Key people Brian Lockwood (President, CEO) Website www.realmexrestaurants.com

**Real Mex Restaurants** is the parent company for several [chains](/source/Chain_restaurant) of full-service [Mexican restaurants](/source/Mexican_cuisine) in the United States. The company is headquartered in [Cypress, California](/source/Cypress%2C_California), and operates more than 120 full service Mexican restaurants under eight brand names.[1]

## History

The company claims its origin to [Larry Cano](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Larry_Cano&action=edit&redlink=1) who, in 1954 with the opening of the first [El Torito](/source/El_Torito) restaurant, which expanded into a chain. Another origin was the founding of [Acapulco Mexican Restaurant and Cantina](/source/Acapulco_Mexican_Restaurant_and_Cantina) in 1960. In 1998, Acapulco became owned by the private equity firm [Bruckmann, Rosser, Sherrill & Co.](/source/Bruckmann%2C_Rosser%2C_Sherrill_%26_Co.),[2] which expanded it into Real Mex Restaurants, acquiring [El Torito](/source/El_Torito), [Chevy's Fresh Mex](/source/Chevy's_Fresh_Mex) and other Mexican full-service chains.[3] The company's reach is now nationwide, and the company claims to be the largest Mexican restaurant chain in the United States.[4]

In October 2011, the company filed for [Chapter 11 bankruptcy](/source/Chapter_11_bankruptcy).[5] In February 2012, it was sold to a group of debt holders.[6] The company is now owned by an investment group that includes Z Capital Partners.[7]

Real Mex Restaurants portfolio includes: [El Torito](/source/El_Torito), [Acapulco Mexican Restaurant and Cantina](/source/Acapulco_Mexican_Restaurant_and_Cantina), [Chevy's Fresh Mex](/source/Chevy's_Fresh_Mex), El Paso Cantina, Who Song and Larry's and the Southern California landmark Las Brisas of Laguna Beach.

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Home page"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140314203836/http://realmexrestaurants.com/). *Real Mex Restaurants*. Archived from [the original](http://realmexrestaurants.com/) on March 14, 2014. Retrieved October 5, 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Battaglia, Andy (March 13, 2000). ["Acapulco restarts its engine, revs up for growth after 8 years in low gear"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140808043500/http://business.highbeam.com/409700/article-1G1-60903504/acapulco-restarts-its-engine-revs-up-growth-after-8). *Nation's Restaurant News*. Archived from [the original](http://business.highbeam.com/409700/article-1G1-60903504/acapulco-restarts-its-engine-revs-up-growth-after-8) on August 8, 2014. Retrieved October 5, 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Real Mex Restaurants, Inc"](https://web.archive.org/web/20090318214512/http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=8034332). *Bloomberg Businessweek*. Archived from [the original](http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=8034332) on March 18, 2009. Retrieved October 5, 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["About Us"](https://web.archive.org/web/20141006001459/http://realmexrestaurants.com/about-us-page-snippet/). *Real Mex Restaurants*. Archived from [the original](http://realmexrestaurants.com/about-us-page-snippet/) on October 6, 2014. Retrieved October 5, 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-WSJ.Palank_5-0)** Palank, Jaqueline (October 4, 2011). ["Real Mex Restaurants Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy"](https://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052970204524604576610763988754984). *[The Wall Street Journal](/source/The_Wall_Street_Journal)*. Retrieved October 4, 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-LABJ.Darmiento_6-0)** Darmiento, Laurence (February 8, 2012). ["Real Mex Approves Sale to Debt Holders"](http://labusinessjournal.com/news/2012/feb/08/real-mex-approves-sale-debt-holders/). [Los Angeles Business Journal](/source/Los_Angeles_Business_Journal). Retrieved October 4, 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Real Mex Restaurants, Inc. Company Profile"](http://www.hoovers.com/company-information/cs/company-profile.Real_Mex_Restaurants_Inc.76c1ddecb778e0b8.html). *Hoovers*. Retrieved October 5, 2014.

## External links

- [Greater Los Angeles portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Greater_Los_Angeles)
- [Companies portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Companies)
- [Food portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Food)

- [Official website](http://www.realmexrestaurants.com)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Real Mex Restaurants](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Real_Mex_Restaurants) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Real_Mex_Restaurants?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.