MATTOON -- As the owner and business partner of Little Mexico Grill & Cantina in Mattoon since 2012, Khashayar Khoshcheshmi is excited to bring the well-known restaurant into what will soon be the fifth decade in business.
“Everybody has a memory from here. When they come in here, they still have memories of when they were kids and their parents would bring them to Little Mexico,” said Khoshcheshmi. Many of the original menu items remain, but he’s about to introduce some new ones, too.
But, it was in 1966 when it all began, according to an embossed sign that hangs prominently inside the restaurant, now located at 1810 Charleston Ave., Mattoon, just east of KC Summers auto dealership. The front of the business and parking lot faces Charleston Avenue, but a back entrance is available from Broadway Avenue, in Mattoon.
Once inside, guests are greeted by plenty of stone and a Southwestern street scene with makeshift businesses that surround the dining and bar area including a barbershop, bank, hotel, bank, art gallery and a doctor’s office; and porches.
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This expansive and tall dining area look is intended to give diners a festive street-like atmosphere. Khoshcheshmi said some of his 15 employees have been serving diners there for more than 20 years.
The original Little Mexico was the creation of Ruth and Harold Griffith, who came to Mattoon from New Mexico, and took up residence at Lake Paradise. There the couple opened a bait shop, according to a report from the JG-TC.
But, it was Ruth Griffith, who loved to cook in her spare time. She would create Mexican dishes such as enchilandas and tacos. Soon, she was selling such cuisine out of her home. She died in November at age 85.
She was born in Germany, and at the encouragement of friends who would frequent her home, was soon convinced she needed to open a restaurant. She did it all. She would cook and it wasn’t unusual to see her running the cash register, too.
It started very small and grew gradually. The restaurant has moved several times and has had different owners since the original founder, chef and proprietor of Little Mexico first opened up the business, Khoshcheshmi said. So, in 2016, he plans to turn the corner on an estimated 50 years of business.
After Griffiths, the restaurant was owned by Don and Chearie Myers, then Dona Sue Summers and her husband Robert Pearson, then Sal Khalighi from 1998 until 2012 when Khoshcheshmi joined him. Khalighi still has a partnership with Khoshcheshmi in the business today.
Khoshcheshmi came into the restaurant business after many years as the owner of a construction company back home. He continues to be a part of that business venture, but has staff to handle day-to-day operation.
After the Lake Paradise start, the Little Mexico moved to different locations including in a smaller building south of KC Summers, which later became a restaurant called Mexican Villa, but is now closed and is owned by Summers. It was also located at Lake Land Boulevard and Rudy Avenue in Mattoon, for a number of years, before it outgrew that location.
This brought about the help of Keith Summers, who purchased the current building and helped renovate it with this “street scene” concept and special colorful lighting that changes automatically, giving Little Mexico its latest home.
“It is important to me to keep the food and menu and tastes, as close as it was when the business started. This is a little treasure for Mattoon. People have literally grown up with this restaurant. There are decades of memories here,” Khoshcheshmi said.
He added that he’s more than just the business owner, he’s very hands-on involved with the staff at Little Mexico. “I am a part of this team. We use the best quality ingredients for our food. We make as much as we can by scratch. Nothing here is pre-cooked,” he said.
Different seasons affect the tastes in things like peppers, for example, at times, but overall the cooks at Little Mexico strive to keep a consistent and unique flavor that started way back in 1966, in Ruth’s kitchen at Lake Paradise.
“Our food is totally different here compared to other Mexican foods. Our salsa and enchilanda sauce and green chili sauce is something that nobody else has. But, for almost 50 years, people have been coming back and enjoying it and keeping our business sound. We have to respect that in our customers,” Khoshcheshmi said.
He added that he intends to add some new items to the menu in the future such as: Hawaiian fajitas, pizza, flat breads. The long-time traditions of Little Mexico such as Mr. Mexican and Mrs. Mexican and Little Mexican are still available.
Khoshcheshmi said Little Mexico can take groups of 45 people in its banquet or party room; and smaller parties of 20 in the veranda. Buffets may be requested in advance for these larger groups or each guest may order from the menu.
The business is open from 11 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday. You can request a reservation or find out more by calling 217-234-4535 or -4538.
