The mascot has always been the Flyers, since they are just west of Buffalo International Airport. The high school is still in operation, but even there change is evident. The population of Cheektowaga has dropped to less than 75,000. The Maryvale School District once had 4 elementary schools now they just have one. North Hill, I think, is now a private school, and Maryvale Elementary is now a continuing/community education building, and the library is now an archives and records center for the town. Now, both of the schools where I went through sixth grade are no longer public schools. The 50s and 60s saw the building of many schools. Then in fourth grade I switched over to Maryvale Elementary (background), which was next to the library (foreground)ĭuring my childhood, my hometown was reaching its peak population of a little over 100,000. Now I will bore you with my academic career. (That's the fire hall in the background.) This used to be Waring's Grocery, the corner store where I used to buy bottles of Orange Crush for ten cents. There were three bars that were 'staggering distance' from the house I grew up in. One of the prominent features in our neighborhood was the volunteer fire hall at the end of the street. (That's my parents' old house in the background.) He's over 90 years old now, and still pretty active. These are post-war homes from the 40s and 50s This guy could be related my great-grandfather listed in his immigration paperwork a Koscielniak as a cousin he would be staying with when he came to America.Įnough graveyards- time for breakfast, a breakfast wrap combo at Tim Horton's. I looked where I thought it should be, but couldn't find it. The graveyard lies right next to the train tracks. This first stop was an attempt to find my great-great-grandfather's grave. One of the biggest hills I rode when I was growing up- the bridge over the rail yard. Hundred-year-old homes, last remodeled fifty years ago. In case you haven't noticed, that's a garbage truck I'm following it's trash day. The Polish Villa Restaurant come get your pierogis! Lots of Poles in Buffalo (including my family).

This is where Buffalo Creek and Cayuga Creek come together to form the Buffalo River. I've never heard of hot dogs being called Red Hots here in Texas, but in Buffalo that's what they call 'em. to Harlem Road which would take me north to Cheektowaga. I rode over to Orchard Park Road and headed north. Kind of a (say this with an echoed announcer voice) Journey into My Passssssst! this was the bicycle ride I took from where my mom now lives in suburban Buffalo up to the neighborhood where I grew up. Our craft bar offers seasonal cocktails crafted with fresh citrus alongside an extensive beer and curated wine selection.Ī thank you to our collaborators of artisans and purveyors that provide our restaurant with a steady supply of quality local product and support.Another fine day from our vacation up north last summer. The restaurant features a lively bar and dining room fitted with a tequila and bourbon tower smack in the middle of the restaurant. The menu reflects our family's Mexican roots, local southern cookery and Chef Oscar Diaz's own rich creative influences. Mom and Dad are cheering the team on as we strive to make this place as welcoming and joyful as they made it for so many years. After a few rounds of remodeling, we closed its doors temporarily yesterday so that we can work on putting the final round of Jose and Sons touches and debut our new location in the coming weeks. 2020 now marks 25 YEARS of business at Pleasant Valley and in an unexpected and truly serendipitous way it became clear to us that upon leaving our downtown space earlier this year there was no better place for Jose and Sons to land than here where many of our first childhood restaurant memories began. Over the years, we would see our family continue to foray into restaurants and Jose’s kids call Raleigh and the South home. This restaurant was a huge moment for our family business that was making our hardworking parents’ American Dreams come true in so many ways. Fast forward to today, and you have five siblings forever shaped by their father's love for hospitality and serving the local neighborhood.Ībout our location: Rewind with us to 1995 when our father Jose Ibarra opened up the third El Rodeo in Raleigh - this one located at 4112 Pleasant Valley Rd. The restaurant is named after our father who twenty years ago made the journey from California to North Carolina in order to pursue his dream of opening a Mexican restaurant. Hero gallery paused, press to play images slides Playing hero gallery, press to pause images slides 'A slick new restaurant that draws on the owners’ heritage to produce a mash-up of Southern and Mexican cuisine.'

Rewind bar raleigh