‘Closing is not an option.’ Iconic Manatee Mexican restaurant preps return after Milton

One of Manatee County’s oldest restaurants took a major hit from Hurricane Milton, and it’s out of commission — for now.

The iconic facade of Alvarez Mexican Restaurant along Palmetto’s Eighth Avenue lay face down in the parking lot after being toppled by Milton’s winds. And similar to countless other buildings throughout Florida, Milton peeled part of the roof back like a tuna can.

On Friday, the neon “Alvarez” sign scrolled across the front of the restaurant, once visible in a bright green glow at night along Eighth Avenue, was no longer there.

But family members who operate the decades-old haven for fajitas, tacos and other authentic Mexican cuisine say the restaurant is not going anywhere.

“There is not a vision for me to see this closed down,” said Victoria Sarmiento, the oldest granddaughter of Marie Alvarez, who founded the restaurant in 1976. “Closing is not an option.”

The interior of the restaurant fared better in Milton’s maelstrom. Aside from some water intrusion and damaged ceiling tiles, the dining room was mostly OK. Milton left intact the restaurant’s vintage charm, warm colors, wooden booths and aged photos lining the walls.

Less than a day after Hurricane Milton stormed through Manatee County, Sarmiento said longtime customers and friends began asking how they could provide support until the restaurant gets back on its feet.

“We’ve had quite a few customers stop by. You can see the emotion in their face. They’re so sad for us,” Sarmiento said. “Just knowing the community is wanting to help is something that’s keeping me going and something we’re grateful for.”

The Alvarez family has started a GoFundMe fundraiser with the goal of raising $10,000.

“It is the heart and soul of a small town in Palmetto, Florida,” the owners wrote on the GoFundMe page. “For a lot of our community, this isn’t just a regular restaurant but a small place that feels like home.”

Alvarez history spans decades in Palmetto

Marie and Antonio Alvarez opened the Alvarez Mexican Restaurant in 1976.

At the time, the closest restaurant offering Mexican food was in Sarasota, according to Bradenton Herald archives.

“We wanted to eat our own food, and share our own food with other people,” Marie Alvarez told the Herald in 1998.

Now 84, Marie’s vision for sharing her favorite foods has become a family affair, with three generations involved in operating the restaurant.

“I think it hasn’t sunk in for her yet,” Sarmiento said of the storm damage. “But she’s determined that we’ll get back open.”

Multiple generations of Manatee County residents have also come to love the restaurant, which has become a popular place for family celebrations, get-togethers and the Cinco de Mayo holiday.

Sarmiento said the restaurant will work as quickly as possible to begin offering takeout until it is ready for a full reopening.