Casa Mexicana was established in January of 1999 by Israel and Dee DeLaPaz.  It is a family owned and operated Mexican style restaurant with authentic Mexican food.

The story according to Dee...

We got our start in a different kind of way.  We certainly were not planning on opening our own business. Israel came to this country 15 years ago and his first job was a dishwasher.  He has been in the restaurant business his whole life.  He worked his way up to become a waiter and that is where he was when we met and married in 1996.  He later became manager of El Maguey, a restaurant that was here in Paducah, KY.

I was a merchandiser of a major department store here in Paducah.  In May of 1998 they downsized and did away with my position so I went to work with Israel.  In November that year his restaurant was sold and he was out of a job.  So, that Thanksgiving, here we were in Paducah, KY, both out of jobs and expecting our little girl Nikki.  He was planning on going to Ohio to work.  We were sitting at home one night wondering and worrying what we were going to do, when we received a phone call from a friend and long time customer.  She asked if we would be interested in opening our own business.  Well, we were very excited but somewhat hesitate. Here we were scared, broke and expecting a baby.  She told us to hang tight and she would get back with us.  After a few days of praying and wondering, we received another call and set up a meeting with a man that I started calling our "guardian angel"...and still do.  We met with him in this huge building and told him our story and that we were both hard workers and would make a go of it if he would give us a chance and lease us the building.  He gave us a wonderful deal and worked with us.

We worked and cleaned and got our crew back together and opening night was breath taking.  We want to say "THANK YOU" to our guardian angel Charlie Saladino and to all our customers that have followed and stayed with us.  We love you all!  we also want to THANK our workers, they are the best.   We would also like to say "THANK YOU" to our special friend Vicki Perkins.  Without all of you this would not have been possible.

Most of all we thank God.  He is the most important one in our lives.  He keeps looking out for us day after day.  Thank you all, again, for your business and support. 

Israel & Dee DeLaPaz

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