In today's economy, businesses and restaurants are struggling to stay open.
But that doesn't mean service and atmosphere have to suffer.
Guillermo's Double L Restaurant believes this and stays in business through hard times because of loyal customers and the family atmosphere.
The greeting above the door at Guillermo's reads: "Bienvenidos Amigos: Mi casa es tu casa."
Linda Baker, manager of Guillermo's, says she loves her job and the atmosphere the restaurant brings to the community. It is just like a family, she says. "So many people grew up in this neighborhood. This is our community," Baker says. She believes that's what keeps people coming back.
Baker says that Guillermo's has been around for so long that people start to come to the restaurant at a very young age with their family.
Children grow up in this neighborhood and bring their own families back to the restaurant and the memories of their childhood, she says.
A 60-year legacy is what Guillermo's offers to the community. It's something to be passed down from one generation to the next. That is what makes Guillermo's unique.
"You see generations of people that now bring their grandchildren in. It's kind of a neat thing," Baker says.
As a young Tucsonan growing up in South Tucson I remember going to Guillermo's every week. I ordered the same side of beans and tortillas to make my own burritos.The food was always delicious and the servers were friendly.
I remember one server taught me the "caterpillar trick" with my straw wrapper. She showed me that if water is sprinkled on a tightly scrunched up wrapper, it does a little dance, just like a real caterpillar.
That small act of kindness has stayed with me for more than 10 years and makes me think fondly of the people and atmosphere at Guillermo's.
"I probably waited on you when you were younger," says Baker, who has worked there for more than 40 years.
Guillermo's has been a family-owned business for three generations since it opened in 1948.
The restaurant started as a simple drive-in barbecue. But, with the Mexican influences in South Tucson, it quickly changed its specialty to Mexican food after only four years.
The small building soon developed into a restaurant seating 40 people.
The territorial-style building has grown from one room to three large dining rooms. It now accommodates 180 people.
The exterior, painted in bright yellows and greens, welcomes anyone who passes. It alludes to the casual Mexican interior decorated with southwest scenes painted by Diana Madaras.
Guillermo's was sold to another family in 2008 and is now owned by Tony Gonzalez.
He has made some changes over the past few years. Some of the interior has been refreshed and more plants have been added, but one of the newest additions was a menu change in 2009. Gonzalez decided to add seafood to Guillermo's already extensive menu.
"Tucson loves seafood," Baker says.
Guillermo's wanted more to offer and seafood was the way to go. It has helped bring in more business and was a hit for most customers.
It adds variety to the Mexican specialties and American favorites that the customers have come to expect.
Many long-time employees weren't quite sure if they would keep their jobs or if the restaurant environment would change when Gonzalez took over. The servers, however, said it was a smooth transition.
"He is a great guy," says Toni Coronel, a server at Guillermo's for 13 years. "Nothing's changed much. It's like the same."
Guillermo's continues to be a family tradition that influences generations of Tucsonans.
It's one of those experiences that doesn't cost a lot but leaves you with a lifetime of memories and reminds us a family of friends can be found anywhere.
