For 55 years, the staff and cooks at Farmers Inn in LaSalle have served its quaint community Mexican food that didn’t require posh ingredients, but rather simple ingredients that turned customers into family.
“I had someone ask me yesterday what the recipe was for our nacho cheese,” said Annette Hopkins, restaurant manager. “I was like, well, we spread it and put it on the chips.”
Hopkins and co-owner Kelly Martinez said the cheese isn’t anything special. Still, after more than 50 years of building relationships with countless customers, all the love poured into all their food — even the nacho cheese — has made the restaurant at 109 3rd Ave. renowned.
It’s that love and the relationships formed that had Hopkins, Martinez and her sister and co-owner Stephanie McKee fighting back tears when asked what their favorite memories are of the restaurant the family has operated since 1970. From working with their fathers to learning customer service skills and welcoming customers with a smile, the memories and tears flowed.
On Saturday, Nov. 2, the restaurant that served nachos, chile rellenos, stuffed sopapillas and other eats to LaSalle residents and others across Weld County and beyond closes permanently.
Martinez said the trio decided in June to sell the building, which is now under contract. A few weeks ago, they decided to close.
Martinez and Hopkins said the lingering effects of COVID-19, the economy, current restaurant regulations and staffing factored into their decision to step away from the restaurant where all three have put in more than 40 years of service. A few years ago, the restaurant started closing on Mondays to try to alleviate staffing problems, but increases in minimum wages and food costs were too much to overcome.
“I think we’re all just getting older and tired,” Martinez said. “I think we’re ready for a new chapter.”
Brothers Cecil and Vincent Vigil started the restaurant in a building a few blocks away from the current location. Cecil is the father of Martinez and McKee, and Vincent is the father of Hopkins. Flora Vigil, Hopkins’ mother, is another co-owner. Hopkins’ brother, David Vigil, and Cheree Miller are longtime staff members.
Being that it’s a family affair makes it even harder for them to step away from what their fathers built, but there is some hope that they could be back in some capacity in the future. They said they’re keeping the Farmers Inn name, along with the recipes, and the door is open for them to return to the restaurant industry — just not anytime soon. Once it closes, the sisters and their cousin plan on enjoying the next chapters of their lives.
Since announcing the closure, McKee said they’ve been busy trying to keep food stocked. When Greeley’s Fat Albert’s announced it was closing in August, a rush of people came to eat there, causing the restaurant to run out of food a few times. Mckee said it’s been busy and they have run out of some items, but customers have been understanding.
The trio is thankful to their customers for years of loyalty and memories.
“When I was in high school, everybody my age worked here,” McKee said. “You’ve seen people grow up here.”
As for what they hope the legacy the restaurant leaves, it’s as simple as their nacho cheese: It’s the legacy of family.
“It was a family place,” Hopkins said. “It’s our dads. A lot of people talk about them all the time.”
To keep updated with the restaurant before it closes, go to its Facebook.
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