Pepe Delgado’s reopened last Friday after being forced to close by the Oklahoma Tax Commission. The restaurant was closed July 17 for failure to comply with Oklahoma tax laws.
According to a notice on the door last July, the restaurant hadn’t paid its taxes in full and hadn’t renewed its licenses.
Restaurant Owner Emilio Salinas said he regrets having to close the restaurant, but is now glad Pepe Delgado’s is reopened.
“It was a mistake and it’s been corrected and I’m going to move forward,” Salinas said.
Helen Wolney, president of the Campus Corner Merchants association, said the restaurant was packed all weekend.
“I saw a lot of regulars,” Wolney said. “I think some people who frequented there were really excited that they were reopened.”
Wolney said Pepe Delgado’s has been on Campus Corner about 15 years.
“It’s a local favorite,” Wolney said. “It’s a vital element of Campus Corner.”
Sarah Savage, history major senior, said she was sad when Pepe’s closed in the summer.
“I was gone two months this summer and I was sad when they were closed,” Savage said.
Savage said she frequented Pepe’s at least once a week last year, and that she is excited they have reopened.
“They’re my favorite Mexican restaurant in Norman,” Savage said. “I figured they wouldn’t be open for several months.”
Pepe’s has moved next door to where Turquoise American Bistro used to be at 786 Asp Ave. Salinas, who also owned Turquoise, said there was not enough volume of customers to keep it open.
“Three days were only busy and the rest were slow,” Salinas said. “It was also a bit overpriced.”
Omar Goyzueta, petroleum engineering senior, said he was sad Turquoise was closing instead of Pepe’s because he enjoyed its food more.
“We have plenty of Tex Mex places around,” Goyzueta said. “Turquoise had decent, healthy food and good wine specials.”
Despite the loss of Turquoise, Salinas described Pepe’s reopening as one of the best experiences of his life.
“The response from the loyal customers was amazing,” Salinas said. “I didn’t know I had so many friends. It was probably the most wonderful experience I’ve had. I even got wine and flowers. It was crazy.”
Salinas said he wanted to thank Mike Webb and his family, who helped him reopen by renting out the building.
“The Webbs are the most wonderful people on the Corner,” Sailnas said. “I wouldn’t have reopened without their help.”
Salinas said no changes were made to the restaurant other than the building. He said the menu, artwork and general ambiance of the old Pepe Delgado’s are unchanged.
Pepe’s new location has a bar and loft in the same room. The original building had two rooms, one with a bar and the other being the restaurant.
Salinas said he is thankful for the community support and is glad that Pepe’s is an important part of Norman.
“I’m excited because I really found out I’m part of the community and the support from the people of Norman was really big,” Salinas said. “I didn’t realize we were part of Norman. I think it’s so good and I want to thank Norman for the help they gave me.”
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JacksonPollock 2 years, 8 months ago
Unfortunately, the re-opening of Pepe's has ruined it for me.
I went on the day of the Grand Re-Opening. At lunch we waited for our food for 45 minutes and they were still about 70 numbers away from ours. I understand it was their first day, but food was coming out of the kitchen at a snails pace.
When asking for a refund, the person I was with was talked down to and the woman at the register was very rude (though the refund was not denied).
Some other people I knew went Friday night, waited for 1 hour and 45 minutes for their food and when it finally came out, it wasn't warm.
I decided to go back and eat there last night, as I hadn't gotten a chance yet. Three of us waited about 30 minutes to get our food. I am happy to report that the food was hot.
However, I don't plan to go back anytime soon. Waiting 45 minutes for food that is good, but largely equal to cheaper and faster tex-mex places (Tulio's, On The Border), simply is not worth it.