We would like to thank the residents of Durango, local and beyond, for the outpouring of support regarding the recent decision to allow our portal, also otherwise known in The Durango Herald stories as the portico or veranda, to continue to be a landmark in our town. We feel this decision was justified and a good compromise was made in allowing our “Francisco’s Building” to stay as part of the cultural architecture and historic character of downtown Durango.
We have always been very proud of our heritage, our restaurant and food, and have worked very hard over 45 years and three generations of our family to maintain the charm and unique atmosphere that welcomed tourists, travelers and, most importantly, the locals, who have enjoyed everything from Francisco’s being a nightclub hot spot a “few” years back to the bustling restaurant everyone would go to enjoy the Snowdown parade, memorial weekend Iron Horse Bicycle Classic, Fourth of July festivities, Labor Day biker rally and all the other events Durango has. The portal has a lot of meaning to a lot of people and has been a source of refuge during all these events and just a place to enjoy ice cream on a summer night, or take shelter from a rain or snow storm.
Thanks again to all of our past special customers, friends and family. Special thanks go out to John Wells, Rob Sachs and Don Ford for their assistance with everything from research, attending meetings to construction and architectural redesigns of the building façade.
We look forward to seeing our “Francisco’s Building” on the 600 block of Main Avenue for years to come.
Francis and Claudine Garcia and family
Durango
