The address 7723 N. University is a unique Peoria address because it houses a building that’s been home to local Mexican restaurants since the ’70’s.
It was originally one of Peoria’s first and foremost beloved Mexican eateries, Pepe Taco. It thrived there for decades before closing in 2005.
Then it was transformed into other Mexican restaurants and below I have the timeline of this building that has a rich history of local Peoria Mexican cuisine.
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PEPE TACO
If you grew up in Peoria in the ‘70’s, the odds are you had your first Mexican food experience at Pepe Taco.
Pepe Taco had two locations in Peoria, one on University in Pioneer Park and on Western Avenue in West Peoria.
Here’s some Pepe Taco merchandise: Up top is a Pepe Taco oven mitt, then a Pepe Taco t-shirt and a Pepe Taco sticker.
The t-shirt and sticker can be found and purchased at Urban Artifacts.
Pepe Taco closed it’s doors in 2005 and sometime after that it became, Pepe’s Tacos. I don’t have any photos from that era, but it closed after a while and then I believe sometime around 2009 it re-opened as…
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LOS JIMADORES
Here’s some shots of Los Jimadores and here’s a link to a blog I did on the place back in 2013.
They decorated the inside nicely and the owners were really nice people.
I was sad when this place closed a few years ago.
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CASA AMIGOS
In 2018, the restaurant re-opened under new ownership as Casa Amigos. As you can see, they brightened up the front of the building!
Here’s a link to an MBIP blog post I put up shortly after they opened up.
They shut down in 2020 and were supposed to re-open, but they never did.
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TODAY
I had heard last February that the same people who own Richard’s Under Main had bought the building and were going to re-open as Big Juan’s.
The sign went up a while back, but then I heard that this might not take place. I went yesterday to take pictures and the sign was flashing that they’re accepting applications and you can apply for a job here.
So Big Juan’s might happen after all! Stay tuned and as soon as I find out, I’ll let you know!
Maybe 2024 will see Big Juan’s in the old Pepe Taco building. Time will tell!
Till then…we’ll see you…mañana!
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Related Posts: Meanwhile, Back In Peoria’s Past: The Captain Jinks Show, Amber And Joe’s Sixth Wedding Anniversary, Bergner’s.