Story by Corina Curry, Rockford Register Star
After 19 years, it's bittersweet, but it's time.
Sandy Diaz-Ruiz and her husband, Manuel Ruiz, have closed a major chapter in their lives and the doors of a Rockford staple.
Los Portales came on Rockford's downtown dining scene in 2004 offering traditional Mexican tacos — al pastor, carne asada and lengua, chorizo and more on corn tortillas with cilantro and onion served on wax paper in plastic baskets.
Nothing fancy unless you count the container of perfectly pickled carrots and peppers and homemade chips and salsa that came on every table.
The Ruizes said they will miss seeing people everyday, their regular customers who have become more than friends. More like family.
"We would like to thank everyone for being here with us all of these years," Diaz-Ruiz said. "We've seen them come in here as boyfriend and girlfriend and then have children and watched their children grow up."
The couple will continue to own the building at 805 E. State St. They have rented the restaurant space to another family that also wants to open a Mexican restaurant.
Los Portales' last day of business was Sunday, July 2. They first opened Fourth of July weekend, and they're closing Fourth of July weekend. It feels like it was meant to be, Diaz-Ruiz said. She isn't sure when the new restaurant operators plan to open. They plan to move in and remodel.
The Ruizes first started thinking about closing Los Portales in December 2022 when Manuel Ruiz underwent surgery. He's got another surgery scheduled for later this year, Diaz-Ruiz said, which was one of the reasons the couple felt it was time to pack up the business.
Diaz-Ruiz said she and her husband said their goodbyes slowly over time. News of the restaurant's closing was spread by word-of-mouth.
"It's time to do something different," she said.
