| | | | HISTORY THE EARLY YEARS: Founder, Bobby Salazar, was born into and has lived his life in the restaurant business. It began a generation before him in 1942, when his father Sal wanted to sell tacos and other Mexican food to the local farm workers. He started by building a shed from some scrap wood. The wood came from an old man who had planned to use it for a chicken coop, but got too old to finish it!. Sal had offered the old man $25 -- a lot back then considering he was a peach picker up until then. When he ran out of wood, that's how big the place would be. He began with the help of his mom and dad (Bobby’s Grandparents), Jose Maria and Antonia. The venture seemed to make everyone happy. It was a short time before the Salazar family's hard work, great food and knack for service turned the small taco shed into a very popular family restaurant, with people coming from all over California and beyond Sal eventually met his wife Eleanor who helped him grow the business. Then, when Bobby came along and was old enough (about gradeschool), he started working in the restaurant too and it really became a family business! There were many regulars that came to visit from all over the country. New recipes were constantly being created and serving people became a way of life. Bobby enjoyed it so much, he was convinced that he wanted to continue in the business, and make it even better. After graduating, he supervised the expansion of the family restaurant which included a new building, catering, popular party trays and the ability to ship frozen dinners to customers anywhere in the United States. And this was just the beginning...
| |  TRIVIA:
What Did Things Cost in 1942
(on average) When Bobby’s Father started a business selling Mexican food: Car: $1,100
Gasoline: 19 cents/gal
House: $6,950
Bread: 9 cents/loaf
Milk: 60 cents/gal
Postage Stamp: 3 cents
Stock Market: 119
Average Annual Salary: $2,400
Minimum Wage: 30 cents per hour Courtesy of www.tvhistory.tv | | | | | | GROWNING IN THE 90's
Restaurant & Cantinas, Taquerias, and Taqueria EXPRESS
In the early 90's Bobby began opening his own restaurants and then franchising them in other San Joaquin Valley towns. He focused on maintaining quality, consistency and service -- just the way his father’s customers did years before.
Today, you can find a Bobby Salazar’s eatery in 25 locations across the San Joaquin Valley. There are 3 types of franchises operating: |  |  | | | 1) Restaurant & Cantina
Full-Service sit down restaurant dining with full bar. Lively Mexican decor and atmosphere. | 2) Taquerias
Semi-Service/Cafe-Style fresh Mexican food ordered at the counter; a sit down fast-casual atmosphere. | 3) Taqueria-Express
A collaboration with convenience stores where customers can get fresh, daily-cooked Mexican food over the counter, inside the convenience store. | | The restaurants have become a popular place for celebrities who come to Fresno.
(left to right) Coach Tarkanian with Bobby at one of the cantinas, Julio Caesar Chavez at the Restaurant, and with Jerry Rice.
| | | | | |   | | FACTORY EXPANSION & RETAIL PRESENCE
In 1997, Bobby started selling Salazar's food in bulk. Sales increased so much that in October of 2000, an 18,000 square foot centralized kitchen was built to supply the demand. The ultra clean, modern food processing facility produces the entire Bobby Salazar’s product line plus private labeled products. The bulk food line caters to a variety of businesses including casinos, education facilities, hospitals, commissaries etc. Currently, Bobby Salazar’s provides employment for more than 300 people. Next, Bobby Salazar’s started a retail line of products. 4 flavors of FROZEN DINNERS and FRESH SALSA and SALSA VERDE available to customers through select grocery stores. Bobby Salazar’s products are currently available at Albertsons, Food Max, Food 4 Less, Savemart, Wal-Mart and 7-Eleven as well as independent community grocery retailers. These retail products are enjoyed by people who want all-natural, authentic, restaurant-quality Mexican dinners and salsa quickly and conveniently at home. | | | | | | | | GIVING BACK
Having spent a lifetime serving others, Bobby Salazar believes in community involvement. In addition to belonging to the Clovis, Fresno, Fowler and Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Bobby Salazar’s company also supports the Fresno Unified School District, Exceptional Parents Unlimited, the Central California Blood Center, Make A Wish Foundation, The Fresno Chaffee Zoo, Fresno State University and periodically holds tailgate fund raisers at The Fresno Grizzlies games, just to name a few. Bobby Salazar has received countless awards for his commuity contrubutions including an honorary star from the Children’s Hospital of Central California. He also assisted with various local fund raising efforts related to the September 11th tragedy. As the company expands, Bobby is committed to making a difference in every area his company serves. Thank you for your support ~ Bobby Salazar
| | | 12/03 - Bobby Salazar's sent a massive holiday care package to a soldier (and Bobby Salazar's fan) from the San Joaquin Valley and his fellow soldiers stationed in Afghanistan. The package included canned and dry goods to feed a company of 90 soldiers, plus a custom supportive poster.
Bobby sends additional acknowledgement and thanks to SYSCO of Central Valley and Kinkos of Clovis whose added generosity helped fulfill this effort. | | | | | |
