Tailgate Party, $25K Grant Help Los Toros Restaurant Hold On

CHATSWORTH, CA — Los Toros, a beloved Mexican restaurant on Devonshire Street, may just make it after all.

On Dec. 8, the 53-year-old restaurant that is known as much for its work with the homeless, firefighters, and the Chatsworth Kiwanis Club as it is for its tacos, reported that it may have to close its doors.

"This is the reality. And the reality is that we might not make it," owner Nicholas Montaño wrote on Facebook, saying that after spending thousands to comply with new health regulations, he had to lay off almost half of his staff. "Our business is hurting, our community is hurting. Small businesses have been put in an impossible position."

But after a $25,000 grant from the CD12 Small Business Relief Fund, administered by Councilmember John Lee and a spontaneously-organized tailgate event that drew at least 100 diners to the restaurant Friday, Montaño, whose father started the restaurant in 1967, said he thinks he can make payroll for a while and hold out until at least February, especially if more tailgate parties occur.

"It was almost as if we were open for outdoor dining," he said of Friday's event, where a snaking line of people ordered food and drinks, and then ate outside of their cars on fold-out tables, sitting on beach chairs. Roughly half were wearing masks, and diners stayed reasonably far apart.

Unlike asimilar event at Cronies Sports Grill in Agoura Hills, Montaño did not appear to make any speeches to cheering crowds, nor did the event have the feel of a rally.

Still, Montaño said he welcomes more events. "One of our guests organized it, and obviously if they want to do it, we'll support them," he said, noting that all guests cleaned up after themselves after they left. "They did a really nice job."

Unlike Cronies, Los Toros has not been fined for the tailgate party, and Montaño said that law enforcement did not interfere in any way.

The Chatsworth community has rallied behind the restaurant, which Montaño says regularly feeds the homeless, firefighters, funds scholarships, and organizes golf fundraisers. The Facebook advertisement for the tailgate event received 315 reactions, 139 comments, and 246 shares. A GoFundMe page created last Tuesday has raised $4,433 from 65 donors as of Monday afternoon, and is aiming for $75,000.

"I was born and raised and Chatsworth - this place means everything to me," said Adrian Olivares, who attended Friday's event. "They've done so much for the community. They're part of the Kiwanis Club, they feed the homeless, they clean up trash every weekend I believe. They're pretty much like family to me."

The restaurant has already raised $25,000 from the CD12 Small Business Angel Fund, which is run by Councilmember John Lee and the Change Reaction nonprofit and provides funds and advice to small businesses in Council District 12.

"I need to thank CD 12 for coming to our rescue," Montaño wrote on Facebook. "The assistance they worked hard to secure for us will let us get our employees back to work make their holidays a tad brighter. John Lee and his team work hard for us and go the extra mile."

"Los Toros Mexican Restaurant and Cantina is a landmark in CD12 and one of our most popular eateries," Councilmember John Lee said in a statement. "For years, owners Nick and Lucia Montaño have gone above and beyond to support this community. Now, in their time of need, I am so pleased that the CD12 Small Business Relief Program – a partnership with The Change Reaction – was able to provide Los Toros with an interest-free loan to help them through this challenging time."

A spokesperson for Lee's office said that they are partnering with Montaño on an initiative to help struggling families in the area.

Montaño has taken on a noticeably different tone with other politicians and government officials, whom he said have made things unnecessarily difficult for businesses.

"We have to get the health department to work with us, not against us - they're not very helpful," he said, claiming that his building has enough ventilation to make indoor dining safe, but the health department ignored his requests. "It seems so easy for them to say no, instead of hey, let's try to keep more businesses open."

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