WICHITA — After working for others for years, Maria Colchado was about to open her own restaurant in Durango, Mexico, 12 years ago when her husband was hurt in a roofing accident while working in Wichita.
Colchado abandoned her restaurant plans and moved her family here.
Now, she and her daughters, Cinthia and Maria, are opening Los Compadres Mexican Grill near 31st and Hillside.
“It was always my mom’s dream,” Cinthia Colchado says. “This is a dream for all my family.
“This is going to be our first chance.”
The family hopes to open the 80-seat restaurant by the end of March.
Cinthia Colchado says the restaurant will serve authentic Mexican cuisine and not the sometimes more prevalent Tex-Mex fare.
“Maybe we can come up with something . . . people really like,” she says. “How you really make it at home.”
Cinthia Colchado says the family has been working on the restaurant idea since coming here.
“Finally, we could get all the money together,” she says.
Cinthia Colchado has been working at other restaurants in the area, including Carrabba’s and Larkspur, and is looking forward to opening one with her family.
“The only thing I can tell you for sure is we’re going to try to do our best.”