After an outpouring of support, a Collinsville restaurant is reopening with special hours
Great news! After closing last month due to an illness in the family, Ramon’s El Dorado is reopening … today!
The family restaurant will temporarily operate with “special dinner hours,” according to a new post on the business’ Facebook page.
In a phone interview, Carlos Otero Jr. said, “The goal was always to reopen the doors.“ It was only a matter of when.
Ramon’s closed after Carlos Otero Sr. became ill and had to undergo surgery, according to a May 17 post on the restaurant’s Facebook page.
Otero’s surgery took place on May 18, according to Otero Jr.
“He’s doing well. I think he’s had a good amount of time to really sit back and heal,” he said.
Otero Sr. is already back to work and spent the last couple of days getting things ready to reopen, said Otero Jr.
Otero Sr. has many responsibilities at the restaurant, mainly as chef and manager of all day-to-day operations.
“There’s no way to operate the restaurant without him,” Otero Jr. said.
Part of reopening includes getting reacquainted with operations for all staff, said Otero Jr. He hopes folks will be patient and bear with Carlos Sr. and the small staff as they get back into the swing of things.
When the restaurant closed, a GoFundMe page was created to help the business survive. To date, $31,145 has been raised to help the Otero family’s business.
Since his father’s health issues, the family has received numerous calls, messages, visits and donations while the business was closed and Otero Sr. was on the mend.
After all the Otero family has done for the community over the years, seeing the community do the same for his father fills Otero Jr. and his family with so much gratitude.
“When my grandfather established the restaurant in the …1960s, it’s a place he really called home,” said Otero Jr. of Ramon’s founder, Raymundo Otero.
For Raymundo, the restaurant’s customers weren’t just customers, they were friends, said Otero Jr.
Not only was Raymundo a local businessman, he was a true member of the community, always giving his time and helping others.
Otero Sr. follows in Raymundo’s footsteps, both in running the restaurant and giving back to the community.
“I’m incredibly proud of him,” said Otero Jr. of his father.
Prior to Otero Sr.’s recent health issues, the restaurant was already struggling with staff shortages and effects of the pandemic.
“It’s been a tough few years for everybody. The community rallying behind local businesses, like Ramon’s … make it all worth it,” said Otero Jr.
For Otero Sr., the “goal is to feed the community, same as my grandfather did,” said Otero Jr.
“I know my grandfather would be very proud of him.”
Ramon’s El Dorado is located at 1711 Saint Louis Road in Collinsville. Temporary hours are 4-8 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday and 4-9 p.m. Friday-Saturday.
For more information, call 618-344-6435 during business hours or visit ramonseldorado.com.
This story was originally published June 14, 2022 at 1:52 PM.
