Customers at Janitzio Restaurant in Caldwell have a clear view into the kitchen where they can watch owner Maria Chavez at work.
Chavez likes it that way. Over the eight years she has been making meals for the people who come through her doors, she has grown close with her regular customers. Their children even refer to her as Grandma Maria.
“I love my job,” she said. “... This is my life and I’m very happy.” Chavez got her start working in other people’s restaurants, but it wasn’t what she wanted.
“I worked too many years in other restaurants,” Chavez said. “I told my husband I wanted to open my own.”
Her husband, Horacio Castillo, asked her if she was crazy, she said. Later, when she was fixing up the building their restaurant is in now at 313 S. Kimball Ave., Chavez said she did almost go crazy. The project involved tearing down walls and pulling up floors. READ MORE
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