Alice Gallegos, daughter of the founders of the historic Joe & Aggie’s Cafe in Holbrook, Ariz., and a longtime co-operator of the Route 66 restaurant herself, died at age 72 on Tuesday in nearby Show Low, Ariz., according to an obituary by the funeral home.
She was born in Holbrook, the daughter of Jesus “Joe” L. Montano and Augustina “Aggie” Tafoya Montano. The Montanos founded Joe & Aggie’s in 1943, where it became renowned for its Mexican-American food (especially its chile sauce) and long Route 66 history.
Joe & Aggie’s was even mentioned in the credits for the 2006 Disney-Pixar movie “Cars.” Pixar production crew took a trip down Route 66 about 10 years ago for research purposes, and included the restaurant as one of its stops.
On an entry in the now-inactive Joe & Aggie’s blog, it read:
Joe and Aggie’s daughter, Alice Gallegos, runs the cafe today, along with her husband, Stanley, and their kids, Steven, Kim, Troy, and Sharlene. It’s the oldest retuarant in town. Established in 1943. They continue to use Aggie’s good Mexican and American recipes and maintain a warm and friendly atmosphere.
“When we first moved here, traffic out front was terrible,” Alice remembers. “When those truckers put on their brakes to make the turn at the corner, they made so much black smoke that we would have to come in early to wipe the soot off our tables.”
And this part of the obituary made me smile:
She was a woman who loved to spend time at the casino, the beauty shop, and knocking down pins at the bowling alley. She was a very good dancer and enjoyed dancing with her husband. She loved everyone and everyone loved her.
A burial Mass will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Our Lady Of Guadalupe Catholic Church, 212 E. Arizona in Holbrook, with a viewing and Rosary starting at 9 a.m. Burial will follow at the Holbrook Cemetery under the direction of Owens Livingston Mortuary in Holbrook.
(Hat tip: Richard C. Moeur)