Omayra Acevedo, Central City. A few days ago, I had to make a somewhat difficult decision. What made it difficult was losing the one benefit I could have gained from it. All other reasons outweighed that one benefit. Therefore, the decision came naturally to me... Let it go.
I did. I walked away completely and took my next step forward. I guess you can say that the unknown is calling and I am complying. The thing about decisions is that sometimes there is mercy in the consequences of those decisions, and other times they can change your life forever.
This is how I found myself at the Mountain City Cantina in Central City, Colorado, having a very pleasant conversation with one of the owners, Joe. I had walked in to find a few regulars already enjoying what I can only imagine was their favorite weekly meal. The two officers in the corner instantly joked with me as I walked in with my camera and paper in hand. This was just the beginning of the proof that the Mountain City Cantina, is not only welcoming to everyone, but it is host to the comfort of being home.
At the time of my interview, they had only been opened for five weeks. I learned that Joe and his wife, Kara, have been catering for about seven years, and this is their second restaurant. The first being JKQ Barbecue – also in Central City. I have to tell you, the place isn’t very big, but that doesn’t matter when you can walk into a place and feel how much heart it has! The cantina is cozy and something you would imagine as part of an old west movie set. One of my favorite things Joe said to me was that they are all about the community, and how they bring community together is by bringing history back to life. History is behind just about everything they do.
Which is no wonder they named their charming cantina after the old Mountain City founded in 1859. It was a mining town built on the side of a mountain. As evident by the historical buildings, the not-too-far-away ghost town of Nevadaville and the intriguing stories of ghost encounters, this is a great place to feel the past come alive, make new friends and feel at home. I can go on and on. For now, I sit at the computer working on my next column; smiling and looking forward to my next visit. The décor, which I was told came from members of the community, is very fitting and fun to look at.
Just as I could not ignore my gut feeling and let go of an opportunity to gain another, Joe and Kara Tinucci could not ignore their passion of becoming part of a community through history, good food, live local music and a few adult beverages. Join me in supporting part of the backbone that makes our small mountain communities so unique and wonderful. Cheers to you, Mountain City Cantina!
(Originally published in the December 12, 2019, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)
