Margarita city tacto tuesday12/24/2023 ![]() Orders start lining up for another hungry Margarita’s South crowd.Ī loyal customer base becomes even more impressive when it includes celebrities like movie star Michael Douglas or the rock group U2. Looking back at everything, despite the struggles, I think Margarita’s South was just meant to be.” We had a great opening day and it has never let up. “People were so excited! I mean it almost felt like a relief to the community. The nation’s recession was over, the neighborhood was getting back on its feet again and people welcomed Quirarte’s return with enthusiasm. Margarita’s South reopened its doors in 2014, but this time things were very different. “I couldn’t sell the building and my health improved, so I really didn’t have a choice but to try to make a go of it again.” “I was having to move money around from other locations to pay for this building and after six years we just couldn’t keep doing that,” explains Quirarte. He kept paying for the building and its utilities for six years until push came to shove. He closed Margarita’s South, tried to repurpose the building and even tried to sell it, but the economy was too weak. Quirarte stuck with it through the early 2000s until health problems and the responsibility of multiple restaurant locations began wearing him down. Martin City was struggling to find its footing as a few persistent businesses, such as Jess & Jim’s Steakhouse, worked hard to keep the community’s spirit alive. Times were different back then and conditions could have been better. Margarita’s South first opened in 1995 to expand the company’s reach into South Kansas City. Salsa and chips define the ideal at Margarita’s South. “The retail side is doing that, but our restaurants here in Kansas City remain the heart of our business.” “We really want to give the rest of the country a taste of Margarita’s,” says Quirarte. Margarita’s Amigos products are now spreading east to store shelves outside of Kansas City. ![]() Since then, the retail side of his empire has expanded with spices and cheese dip that are taking it into new markets. When Quirarte first introduced salsa to grocery store shelves over two decades ago, it was a mainly mustard and ketchup world. That’s no small achievement in a crowded condiment market with endless salsa options. “It even sells better than national grocery brands.” “I’m happy to say our Margarita’s Amigos brand salsa is the best selling salsa in Kansas City,” says Quirarte with a smile. The food is so good that it’s also become an expectation at grocery stores all over the area. Margarita’s is widely recognized as the perfect place when you’re craving chips, salsa and of course, margaritas. “The residents of Huntington Beach will greatly benefit from his direction and contributions in this new role.Founders Dave Quirarte and Ron Abarca. “I trust he will do a great job for this city that he also calls home,” Strickland said. Strickland also said he was thrilled Parra is willing to become the interim city manager. Mayor Tony Strickland thanked Zelinka in a statement. The city manager oversees more than 1,500 employees and a $500 million budget. ![]() Parra will remain the police chief as he takes on his new duties as city manager. “This is requiring more time, attention and work schedule flexibility than possible while concurrently rendering professional services to the city of Huntington Beach.” “My decision to retire is based upon considerations culminating with a significant and challenging personal issue: caregiving of my elderly mother,” Zelinka said in a statement. Zelinka, in a news release, said he was retiring from public service to have more time to care for his elderly mother. The City Council on Tuesday night in closed session unanimously approved making Huntington Beach Police Chief Eric Parra the interim city manager. ![]() Huntington Beach City Manager Al Zelinka has resigned, the latest top official to leave in the last year, and the city will turn to its police chief to run City Hall until a replacement is found. ![]()
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