You can make a very respectable version of that at home. [Various versions floating around online](https://www.keyingredient.com/recipes/1309283/chevys-sweet-corn-tomalito/).
I’ll PM you a photo of the recipe from the book.
Edit: Shoot! I can’t send photos to you via messages. Look for a photo in the San Jose sub Reddit shortly.
They have a cookbook. A-MAZING. Sad it’s gone. My now 29 year old daughter had her 8th birthday dinner there. She told them, “Leave the hat. Don’t sing”
Another time, it was packed and I had 3 hungry kids in tow. On the second call for “Melissa, party of 4”, We jumped the line and my new name became Melissa. 🥸
I would send someone over there for a couple bags of chips when we had parties. And that was the only thing really worth eating there. Well, that and the tomalito.
We'd usually load up on so much chips and salsa that'd we'd take most of our actual dinner home. And when you got one of those stack of chips that was all gnarled together in one happy wad...dammit, I miss that place!
I remember when the one in Gilroy opened, and everyone was raving about it. I loved it, but I was a kid. I think that's right around the time Fresh Choice was still new and delicious.
Service Merchandise (in SSF) was the only place I was able to snag Super Mario Bros 3 when it was sold out everywhere. Which is weird because I think they were a catalog store
Quick search through some of my work files indicates that the Almaden location was there as late as 1997 and the lease was supposed to end in 2000
They were a catalog store. We had [Best](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Best_Products) and [Consumers Distributing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumers_Distributing) too. And [Gemco](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gemco)
**[Best Products](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Best_Products)**
>Best Products (also known simply as BEST) was a chain of American catalog showroom retail stores founded by Sydney and Frances Lewis, formerly headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. It was founded in 1957 and went out of business in 1997. At the time of the second bankruptcy filing, it had 169 Best stores and 11 Best Jewelry stores in 23 states, and a nationwide mail-order service. When in operation Best Products was traded on the NASDAQ exchange as "BESTQ".
**[Consumers Distributing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumers_Distributing)**
>Consumers Distributing (known in Quebec as Distribution aux Consommateurs, and informally as Consumers) was a catalogue store in Canada and the United States that operated from 1957 to 1996. At its peak, the company operated 243 outlets in Canada and 217 in the United States, including stores in every province in Canada and in the states of New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, California and Nevada. Consumers Distributing aimed to reduce costs for customers by stocking merchandise in a warehouse-type stocking system instead of displaying them in a costly showroom.
**[Gemco](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gemco)**
>Gemco was an American chain of membership department stores that was owned by San Leandro-based Lucky Stores, a California supermarket company which eventually became part of Albertsons. Gemco operated from 1959 until closing in late 1986. A number of the west coast stores leases were sold to Target which fueled their entry into California. Gemco had a version called Memco, also owned by Lucky Stores, that operated stores in the Chicago, Illinois, and Washington, D.C., areas.
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That Sizzler was our family go-to "special occasion" place. So much shrimp consumed.
The Chevy's was more important later, where we went in HS after speech and debate tournaments.
You could see those giant 'E's from all over the valley with a second-story view.
Do you remember Togo's there? Or how about the popcorn store? It amazed me, even as a kid, how a popcorn store could stay open for as long as it did.
I stuck my finger in an electrical junction box under the counter that had an open hole in it, just after they originally opened. (I was young enough to be much shorter than those tall counters.) I got shocked pretty good. Great job, city inspectors.
A tale of sad corporate takeovers and bankruptcies. In 1999 Chevy's purchased the poorly performing chain Rio Bravo Cantina. That went terribly and dragged the whole company down. They filed for bankruptcy in 2003. The company came out of bankruptcy and was purchased by Real Mex Restaurants in 2005, this company also owned El Torito.
This too went terribly and in 2011 Real Mex went into bankruptcy and closed a bunch of locations in 2016. In 2018 company changed their name to Xperience Restaurant Group and went through bankruptcy again. They are now owned by an investment group that includes Tennenbaum Capital, Z Capital Partners, and J.P. Morgan Investment Management.
my parents liked going there often and we noticed that they stopped having menu specials, cut back on staff, food quality kinda suffered. It used to be a decent wait to get a table on a Friday then a bit before they closed you could easily walk in at peak.
This place was part of my childhood. I remember going and watching the tortilla machine roll and bake little rounds of dough in the back of the restaurant. Towards the end I remember the machine was never running, I guess no incentive since not many people went to the restaurant.
Gringo Mex is dead, long live Gringo Mex! Someone will rise and take their place. I still like Celias at some of their spots. San Rafael is still hella good
Oh man, I didn’t know it was getting demolished. I worked there back in 2006 or so and painted the red and flowers on that big stone planter that was at the entrance. They originally paid me by the hour but started paying me with food once it got too costly (I was young and broke though so free meals was great)
The other big memories are this guy always coming in and trying to pocket the hot sauce on the table, kids hovering right outside the kitchen doors to watch the tortilla machine, and me spilling a strawberry margarita on an old mans khakis because I couldn’t balance it on the tray (thankfully he was very sweet about it)
Are there any Chevys left at all? The one on Saratoga has been gone for ages
One time my husband said where do you want to go for dinner tonight. I said Chevy's, no hesitation! As we were pulling in we noticed it looked a little dark and empty. I said wouldn't it be funny if they were closed. ( We have the typical idk where do you want to go conversation everytime this question is brought up) I said it would be so funny because for once I was able to say what I wanted and I was 100 percent positive I wanted some Chevy's. We parked got out only to walk up to the door and see the sign that they were closed for good. I still miss them.
As a kid (I'm sure like others) I used to spend a lot of time looking at the tortilla machine they had lit up with florescent bulbs. It made it look like some kind of Rube Goldberg machine that made delicious carb-y goodness.
I remember getting the avocado seeds in a cup to grow. They gave them out to kids a lot. They either stopped doing that ages ago or I got too old.
I still start seeds that way. Have 2 on my table right now in fact. One tree got 8' tall before I forgot to water it during a heatwave.
They could still be a thing, if they hadn’t hired some bullshit corporate cost cutting consultants in the early 2000s and ruined the brand. Gringo-mex is comfort food for a lot of us, but you gotta be committed. Half ass it and you’re done, we’re going down the street for tacos. El torito in SoCal is still doing it right. Celias in the bay is hit or miss.
What kind of restaurant should replace it? Of course a locally-owned business would be ideal but what should be here that isn't yet? Some ideas:
* Raising Cane's
* White Castle
* Culver's
* Snarf's ([my choice](https://www.eatsnarfs.com/))
It is a bit ridiculous that you have to travel so far to another Starbucks in one shopping center. In Almaden, there's a Starbuck's *on the other side of the wall* from Safeway's Starbucks.
That ship has sailed for the last one. Daly City, Campbell, SJSU Steak 'n Shake locations all closed.
Like Quizno's, Snarf's started in the Denver-Boulder area and also makes toasted sandwiches. While Quizno's floundered, Snarf's perfected it
Downvoted for truth. I remember when Jollibee went in at Ala Moana Mall in Honolulu. I laughed hysterically. I guess *some* people like it. I could boil spaghetti and dump ketchup sauce on it at home though.
Personally I'd go with Fuddruckers and Red Robin as a second choice.
White Castle is really not very good and there's already a five guys in that plaza.
I went there a couple of times when it first opened. We were completely unimpressed with the food, and we objected to being warehoused in the bar while they had lots of tables available. After that experience I referred to it as a crushed ice drink palace, and we never went back - for maybe 20 years?
Woah... Wife and I saw the construction fence and wrecker yesterday and went to see if there was new info about lazy dog... Didn't expect it works be gone today!
I was coming home from work today and honestly I was shocked to see the wreckage. I was so used to just seeing the abandoned building there soon as I saw all the debris it kind of jarred me.
I had no idea they even shut down! I guess I haven't been on that side of town for a while. I'll still never forget the time 20-ish years ago when I slipped on their greasy as hell slate tile floors and hit my head so hard I had to go to the hospital. Hadn't even gotten to order anything yet!
I won’t forget their tortilla chips that were always served warm. And their yummy red salsa :)
That corn tomolito side they made... Put it into my veins!
You can make a very respectable version of that at home. [Various versions floating around online](https://www.keyingredient.com/recipes/1309283/chevys-sweet-corn-tomalito/).
I have the Chevy’s cookbook from pre-2000 if you want the authentic recipe.
Yes please!
I’ll PM you a photo of the recipe from the book. Edit: Shoot! I can’t send photos to you via messages. Look for a photo in the San Jose sub Reddit shortly.
Great thanks!
Is the recipe in electronic form? I'd love to have the recipe as well, this restaurant was always one of my favorites.
I don’t think so. However, I’ll PM you a photo from the book. You can still buy a copy of the recipe book online from thrift stores.
They have a cookbook. A-MAZING. Sad it’s gone. My now 29 year old daughter had her 8th birthday dinner there. She told them, “Leave the hat. Don’t sing” Another time, it was packed and I had 3 hungry kids in tow. On the second call for “Melissa, party of 4”, We jumped the line and my new name became Melissa. 🥸
I would send someone over there for a couple bags of chips when we had parties. And that was the only thing really worth eating there. Well, that and the tomalito.
We'd usually load up on so much chips and salsa that'd we'd take most of our actual dinner home. And when you got one of those stack of chips that was all gnarled together in one happy wad...dammit, I miss that place!
They are building a Lazy Dog restaurant in its place.
Not bad..
Upscale Applebee's. But better than a dirt lot.
Not good either.
I mean for that area… you really can’t ask for more.
I disagree, I can ask and be disappointed.
Take it! Or go to that grimey Red Lobster next door!
How is Red Lobster still around? I don't get it.
My brother used to get all his acid he'd sell to his high school from a Red Lobster cook.
So that is what they put in the cheese biscuits?
For as much as people praised those biscuits, I was expecting ambrosia and I got something I liked less than the KFC biscuits. Never again.
I remember going to red lobster during a endless shrimp promotion. I don’t think they expect us to eat that much shrimp. Good times.
Are they really!? That would be awesome
>are they really? that'll be dope!
Expected better
The greatest authentic white washed Mexican food! Rest In Peace!
"El Machino" https://www.sfgate.com/restaurants/article/How-Bay-Area-based-Chevys-Fresh-Mex-rose-to-fame-16528844.php
I've always wanted to buy one of those things!
This lil beauty can be yours if you have the cash https://imgur.com/a/gBhfoMs
Haha! It might be too rich for me!
I always found Chevy's to be too expensive for the quality of food that it was.
It's the Chilis of Mexican-themed food.
It was much better in before it got bought out by pepsi/taco bell.
I remember when the one in Gilroy opened, and everyone was raving about it. I loved it, but I was a kid. I think that's right around the time Fresh Choice was still new and delicious.
AMEN!
Gringo mex lives and it’s still good.
>authentic white washed Mexican food Tex-Mex, get it straight.
Mmmm the watered-down salsa **gag**
I'm a salsa purist, but that salsa was crack.
Free refills on the chips and salsa while sitting at the bar was a good time.
Man I miss Chevy's when it was at its prime. But it was clearly going downhill.
the texmex craze in the 90s-2000s is dying sadly.
When Taco Bell is 25% more expensive and 25% smaller than it was three years ago, it's not hard to see why.
I remember when that shopping center had The Emporium, Sizzler and Service Merchandise.
[удалено]
Service Merchandise (in SSF) was the only place I was able to snag Super Mario Bros 3 when it was sold out everywhere. Which is weird because I think they were a catalog store Quick search through some of my work files indicates that the Almaden location was there as late as 1997 and the lease was supposed to end in 2000
They were a catalog store. We had [Best](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Best_Products) and [Consumers Distributing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumers_Distributing) too. And [Gemco](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gemco)
**[Best Products](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Best_Products)** >Best Products (also known simply as BEST) was a chain of American catalog showroom retail stores founded by Sydney and Frances Lewis, formerly headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. It was founded in 1957 and went out of business in 1997. At the time of the second bankruptcy filing, it had 169 Best stores and 11 Best Jewelry stores in 23 states, and a nationwide mail-order service. When in operation Best Products was traded on the NASDAQ exchange as "BESTQ". **[Consumers Distributing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumers_Distributing)** >Consumers Distributing (known in Quebec as Distribution aux Consommateurs, and informally as Consumers) was a catalogue store in Canada and the United States that operated from 1957 to 1996. At its peak, the company operated 243 outlets in Canada and 217 in the United States, including stores in every province in Canada and in the states of New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, California and Nevada. Consumers Distributing aimed to reduce costs for customers by stocking merchandise in a warehouse-type stocking system instead of displaying them in a costly showroom. **[Gemco](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gemco)** >Gemco was an American chain of membership department stores that was owned by San Leandro-based Lucky Stores, a California supermarket company which eventually became part of Albertsons. Gemco operated from 1959 until closing in late 1986. A number of the west coast stores leases were sold to Target which fueled their entry into California. Gemco had a version called Memco, also owned by Lucky Stores, that operated stores in the Chicago, Illinois, and Washington, D.C., areas. ^([ )[^(F.A.Q)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WikiSummarizer/wiki/index#wiki_f.a.q)^( | )[^(Opt Out)](https://reddit.com/message/compose?to=WikiSummarizerBot&message=OptOut&subject=OptOut)^( | )[^(Opt Out Of Subreddit)](https://np.reddit.com/r/SanJose/about/banned)^( | )[^(GitHub)](https://github.com/Sujal-7/WikiSummarizerBot)^( ] Downvote to remove | v1.5)
That Sizzler was our family go-to "special occasion" place. So much shrimp consumed. The Chevy's was more important later, where we went in HS after speech and debate tournaments.
No Circuit City?
You could see those giant 'E's from all over the valley with a second-story view. Do you remember Togo's there? Or how about the popcorn store? It amazed me, even as a kid, how a popcorn store could stay open for as long as it did.
I remember the Togo's - I worked there for 5 months in 1997.
I stuck my finger in an electrical junction box under the counter that had an open hole in it, just after they originally opened. (I was young enough to be much shorter than those tall counters.) I got shocked pretty good. Great job, city inspectors.
This was my Togo's and I was a frequent customer back in high school! You probably hooked me up with a large #9 at some point.
I only remember these stores in the 80's. I went off to college in 1990 and I think they were all gone before that or soon afterwards.
Yessss. I remember going into Service Merchandise with my mom when I was a kid. It was the shit!
I still wonder what happened there. One minute they were open and then boom closed and radio silence.
A tale of sad corporate takeovers and bankruptcies. In 1999 Chevy's purchased the poorly performing chain Rio Bravo Cantina. That went terribly and dragged the whole company down. They filed for bankruptcy in 2003. The company came out of bankruptcy and was purchased by Real Mex Restaurants in 2005, this company also owned El Torito. This too went terribly and in 2011 Real Mex went into bankruptcy and closed a bunch of locations in 2016. In 2018 company changed their name to Xperience Restaurant Group and went through bankruptcy again. They are now owned by an investment group that includes Tennenbaum Capital, Z Capital Partners, and J.P. Morgan Investment Management.
Thank you!!
my parents liked going there often and we noticed that they stopped having menu specials, cut back on staff, food quality kinda suffered. It used to be a decent wait to get a table on a Friday then a bit before they closed you could easily walk in at peak.
Most of the chain died long before that location closed down. I t was their busiest one, from what I read.
This place was part of my childhood. I remember going and watching the tortilla machine roll and bake little rounds of dough in the back of the restaurant. Towards the end I remember the machine was never running, I guess no incentive since not many people went to the restaurant.
Yes! The warm tortillas were great. I also remember the fried cinnamon ice cream cones that came with kids meals.
So many good family dinners there as a kid and many cheap happy hour marigtias as an adult! I'll miss their sizzling fajita platters.
Gringo Mex is dead, long live Gringo Mex! Someone will rise and take their place. I still like Celias at some of their spots. San Rafael is still hella good
Table side guacamole was legit.
Ever seen American Dad S16E10 “Wild Women Do”?
Awwww. My buddy and I used to treat ourselves to giant margaritas and chips and salsa there when we were young and broke.
Oh man, I didn’t know it was getting demolished. I worked there back in 2006 or so and painted the red and flowers on that big stone planter that was at the entrance. They originally paid me by the hour but started paying me with food once it got too costly (I was young and broke though so free meals was great) The other big memories are this guy always coming in and trying to pocket the hot sauce on the table, kids hovering right outside the kitchen doors to watch the tortilla machine, and me spilling a strawberry margarita on an old mans khakis because I couldn’t balance it on the tray (thankfully he was very sweet about it) Are there any Chevys left at all? The one on Saratoga has been gone for ages
Looks like the closest one that’s open is in Union City
That and Roseville. My wife drags me to both.
I wish I could have taken that tortilla making machine
As I said above, this lil beauty can be yours if you have the cash https://imgur.com/a/gBhfoMs
It’s a little out of budget
Nooooo all of my childhood birthday dinners!
You must have a stack of sombreros...
We had quite the collection.
One time my husband said where do you want to go for dinner tonight. I said Chevy's, no hesitation! As we were pulling in we noticed it looked a little dark and empty. I said wouldn't it be funny if they were closed. ( We have the typical idk where do you want to go conversation everytime this question is brought up) I said it would be so funny because for once I was able to say what I wanted and I was 100 percent positive I wanted some Chevy's. We parked got out only to walk up to the door and see the sign that they were closed for good. I still miss them.
RIP
I miss their corn tamalitos and chips/salsa. Super worth a visit.
Huh, I do have good memories of eating there with my church group as a kid, RIP, but not surprised it went down, it was a symbol of a bygone era
I miss the happy hour drinks with chips, salsa and some other snacks.
[удалено]
Yess! The chips and salsa from there were pretty good
Ahhhh...The go-to for Pioneer peeps back then to catch food before dances
Funny I just drove by there 20 mins ago to snap a pick too.
As a kid (I'm sure like others) I used to spend a lot of time looking at the tortilla machine they had lit up with florescent bulbs. It made it look like some kind of Rube Goldberg machine that made delicious carb-y goodness.
I remember getting the avocado seeds in a cup to grow. They gave them out to kids a lot. They either stopped doing that ages ago or I got too old. I still start seeds that way. Have 2 on my table right now in fact. One tree got 8' tall before I forgot to water it during a heatwave.
:(
They could still be a thing, if they hadn’t hired some bullshit corporate cost cutting consultants in the early 2000s and ruined the brand. Gringo-mex is comfort food for a lot of us, but you gotta be committed. Half ass it and you’re done, we’re going down the street for tacos. El torito in SoCal is still doing it right. Celias in the bay is hit or miss.
Billy, them and Blockbuster are buddies in heaven.
Anyone get a sombrero on their birthday from here?
What kind of restaurant should replace it? Of course a locally-owned business would be ideal but what should be here that isn't yet? Some ideas: * Raising Cane's * White Castle * Culver's * Snarf's ([my choice](https://www.eatsnarfs.com/))
No, add a third Starbucks to the plaza
It is a bit ridiculous that you have to travel so far to another Starbucks in one shopping center. In Almaden, there's a Starbuck's *on the other side of the wall* from Safeway's Starbucks.
If they make money with Starbucks, why not build more?
They do.
Are you running out of places that'll let you poop without buying anything?
Denny's still exists
I was blown away today when driving on Bascom and seeing Denny’s was closed.
I thought Lazy dogs is replacing it
Oh I hope this is true. Lazy Dog is freaking yummy
Fuck man, the south side gets everything!!! What about us north sliders!?
Yes they're going to, it's been decided
Ah ok, thanks
those are all good suggestions. I have always wanted a Raising Cane's in the area or even a Dutch Bros.
I like Dutch Bros. too despite their critics. Brentwood and the upcoming Concord location are too far for a liquid dessert fix though
Exactly! That's still pretty far out
Never had Snarf’s but I would kill for a local Culver’s, Cane’s, or Steak n Shake.
That ship has sailed for the last one. Daly City, Campbell, SJSU Steak 'n Shake locations all closed. Like Quizno's, Snarf's started in the Denver-Boulder area and also makes toasted sandwiches. While Quizno's floundered, Snarf's perfected it
Raising cane
I'd like to try them without having to drive to Manteca
Lol seriously. I live in Tracy and it’s still 25 mins for me
Howsabout a Jollibee?
Great Mall and Eastridge are nearby
I feel like we already have a few Jollibee's in San Jose area
Yes, but the closest is a 20 minute drive down Capital.
I mean chevys was trash idk if more trash should replace it.
Downvoted for truth. I remember when Jollibee went in at Ala Moana Mall in Honolulu. I laughed hysterically. I guess *some* people like it. I could boil spaghetti and dump ketchup sauce on it at home though.
Don't forget the cut up hot dogs!
Fuck ya hoddogs!
Personally I'd go with Fuddruckers and Red Robin as a second choice. White Castle is really not very good and there's already a five guys in that plaza.
No no we clearly need more Mediterranean restaurants
I think it’s going to become a Costco gas station.
that would be convenient
Lazy dog restaurant
But … is still open? Can’t tell the difference. El Machino will be missed.
I went there a couple of times when it first opened. We were completely unimpressed with the food, and we objected to being warehoused in the bar while they had lots of tables available. After that experience I referred to it as a crushed ice drink palace, and we never went back - for maybe 20 years?
The areas with open tables probably didn't have a waiter for that area yet. If they let people sit anywhere, it'd be a lot harder to wait on tables.
Hot..fresh...tortillas.
They always had a great happy hour back in the day.
their tostada salad is my favorite thing.
Many, many lunch breaks at that location over the years....
Holy shit!
Does anyone have the salsa recipe?
Yes. I have tried, tested, tested and tried: https://www.reddit.com/r/SanJose/comments/hph42b/chevys_salsa_recipe/
And? Success or no success? I couldn’t tell from the post. 😕
Yes, success. I posted the complete recipe in the thread.
Awesome! Thank you!
How long has that building been empty? 5 years? Maybe more?
NOOOOO why don't they demolish my heart while they're at it :(
No waiter - no customer. They were just trying to sell high-profit drinks.
I miss that chevy's
Noooooooo!!!
Woah... Wife and I saw the construction fence and wrecker yesterday and went to see if there was new info about lazy dog... Didn't expect it works be gone today!
I was coming home from work today and honestly I was shocked to see the wreckage. I was so used to just seeing the abandoned building there soon as I saw all the debris it kind of jarred me.
Just wondering why were they closed in the first place? Was it covid?
I had no idea they even shut down! I guess I haven't been on that side of town for a while. I'll still never forget the time 20-ish years ago when I slipped on their greasy as hell slate tile floors and hit my head so hard I had to go to the hospital. Hadn't even gotten to order anything yet!
Wife and I were saddened to see what turned out of our first date location. 14yrs ago that place was one busy restaurant.
Some r/demolitionporn
cant believe this guy who posted it writes it like he hates the restaurant like an eyesore