Friday, February 1, 2013

El Charro's President Is Determined To Keep A Latin Nightclub Going For Tucson

Posted By on Fri, Feb 1, 2013 at 4:00 PM

After learning that CVS Pharmacy recently bought El Mercado Shopping Center, on the corner of Broadway Boulevard and Wilmot Road, I asked Ray Flores Jr., president of El Charro, a few questions about the future of the 17-year-old Latin nightclub that will soon be closing. Flores got an eviction notice in December giving him days to move. With the help of Steve Kozachik and Paul Cunningham, city councilmen, Flores managed to delay the move until March 3.

El Charro’s east side location was the first expansion and Flores’ first restaurant, he said. The restaurant drew crowds on Saturday nights as a Latin nightclub.

Flores said he’s hoping to announce a new location in the next few weeks as he’s looking to relocate the nightclub possibly to the east side but he’s also looking into downtown locations.

“I’m going to bring back a Latin nightclub in Tucson because I think the population deserves it,” Flores said.

As a Latina who’s been to El Charro on a Saturday night, it’s pretty sad to know their future is in jeopardy. El Charro as a restaurant has many locations but none provide a fun environment where people go to meet others and dance and enjoy themselves.

The Latin community is a huge chunk of Tucson and now all the city might have to offer are Thursday nights at Sapphire. While there are many nightclubs in town that play Latin music, El Charro was one of few left that was a hang out spot for mostly people in their twenties.

I guess all we can do now is keep our fingers crossed and wait for Flores to announce where he’ll be relocating.

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