When walking down Moscow’s main street, you will instantly notice the bright orange canopy of La Casa Lopez welcoming customers in. One of the most popular restaurants in Moscow, La Casa Lopez is a family-owned business that has been running for 27 years. The Lopez family has been running the restaurant since 1994, and later in 2002, moved the restaurant downtown.
Mitchell Lopez, the general manager of the restaurant, “fell in love with the hospitality industry” after attending University of Idaho and decided to continue being a part of his parents’ business, moving up in rank to become a partial owner. Lopez’s biggest take-away from owning a business has been to prioritize the community in which they have been placed.
“Without the support from our community, we wouldn’t be able to survive,” he said.
When the pandemic began to change the way small businesses could operate, the Lopez family adapted.
“It was a huge learning experience for us,” Lopez said. “We had to completely change from being a large, sit-down restaurant to going completely take-out.”
Lopez and his family did a lot of research during the early stages of the pandemic, checking out how restaurants in other cities were adapting to the newfound challenges.
They found salvation in curb-side pick-up, being one of the first restaurants in Moscow to incorporate it into their business model. Their family called the City of Moscow and talked amongst other businesses to see if they would be able to use the city parking outside their storefront for temporary curbside pick-up. They were given permission and began to pave the way for other restaurants in Moscow to do so.
Throughout the pandemic, instead of forming the “every man for himself” mentality, they bonded with other restaurants and shop owners to work together.
“We became a family network with helping each-other out,” Lopez said. “If one business fails, it affects all of us on Main Street. We don’t want others losing their livelihoods, so we formed a large hospitality support system.”
Lopez’s favorite aspect of running a restaurant is seeing people’s faces light up after they take a bite of the food or take a sip of their handmade drinks. He says that being able to pass down family recipes and bring them thousands of miles away from their original home in California has been an incredible experience. To him, it isn’t just a job, it feels as if he is able to cater to friends and family every day. To share this passion with his employees, he instructs them on the importance of customer service, asking them how they would host their friends and family if they were there.
La Casa Lopez has a tight-knit community of workers, employing both university students and full-time residents in Moscow. Through working, they foster a close relationship with their employees, viewing them as a part of the family. Many of their employees have been with them for a long time, the longest being 16 years and another for 14.
Jonathan Valdez Gonzalez, a recent graduate of WSU, has been with the company for six years. As La Casa’s head bartender, he states that working at the restaurant has helped him meet some of his best friends, including his now wife. He started working for the restaurant as a first-year student and found that he loved the fast-paced career experience.
“It’s been amazing to watch the community come in and learn customers’ faces, to really bring them into the La Casa Lopez family,” he said.
Some of La Casa Lopez’s most popular dishes involve their carne asada and beef plates. They also offer a variety of vegetarian options and are vegan-friendly to accommodate different palettes. When taking a seat at their restaurant, you are sure to be met by a cheerful waiter with chips, salsa and their famous bean dip at the ready.
La Casa’s excellent food, phenomenal customer service and warm, welcoming atmosphere are what makes it a jewel of downtown Moscow, and what keeps residents coming back for more.
Dani Moore can be reached at [email protected]