DICKINSON — In December, the owners of one of Dickinson’s most-loved restaurants celebrated 20 years in business. Felipe Sr. and Adriana Aguirre, owners of El Sombrero on Dickinson’s north side recently celebrated the anniversary of their restaurant by concluding transformative renovations to the outside of their building.
After sharing ownership in a restaurant chain in Memphis, Tennessee, the Aguirre family received an offer to take over ownership of a Mexican restaurant in Dickinson, and they decided to make the move in December 2005. When the Aguirres arrived in North Dakota with their three sons, they took ownership of El Sombrero and made it their own.
Since their move to Dickinson, brothers Felipe Aguirre Jr. and Jose Garcia say that the community has been not only supportive of the restaurant, but also of their family for the past two decades.
“A lot of people who are from Dickinson say they’ve watched us grow up. They say “we remember when you were ‘this big,’ checking me out and running around taking tortilla chips,” Jose recalled. He was only a fourth grader when the family relocated to Dickinson.
An interior snapshot of El Sombrero.
Olivia Feddeler / The Dickinson Press
As the brothers have grown up, they have started to become more and more involved in the family business. For eight years now, Jose has been the restaurant’s head chef. The role, he says, was thrust upon him by necessity when the restaurant lost several cooks at once. At first, Jose says, the role came with a lot of pressure, but now after eight years as head chef, he feels confident. Additionally, both Felipe Jr. and Jose agree that it is advantageous to be able to keep the head chef position in the family.
Felipe Jr. and Aksel Aguirre, the family’s youngest brother, now work for the restaurant’s front of house, meaning that when you walk into El Sombrero, it is likely that one of their faces will be the first thing you see. Recently, though, you might notice something different before you even enter the building — the restaurant’s fresh new exterior.
Last year, Felipe Jr. explained, the restaurant withstood some hail damage, and during the process of having the damage repaired, one of the contractors recommended that they look into the Stark Development Corporation Façade Improvement Program.
Stark Development’s Façade Improvement program was founded in 2017
. According to the program website, the organization “is geared towards improving and promoting the creation and expansion of our commercial and retail sectors throughout communities in Stark County.”
In an official statement about the Façade Improvement Program, Stark Development Corporation (SDC) said it further emphasizes “our mission of creating a better place to live, work, and grow. The facade improvement program does more than refresh storefronts it restores pride, attracts customers, supports our local businesses and brings life and vibrancy to our communities throughout Stark County.”
SDC said the program has led to millions of dollars being invested in area improvements.
“Since its inception, Stark Development Corporation has approved $1,605,135 in program funding, supporting façade improvements for 83 businesses,” the organization continued. “Participating businesses are required to provide matching funds, resulting in a total investment of $14,132,082 in local improvement projects.”
The newly renovated exterior of El Sombrero Mexican Restaurant in Dickinson.
Olivia Feddeler / The Dickinson Press
Some of the goals of the program are improving the “physical characteristics and aesthetics” of local properties, encouraging commercial growth and the “beautification of the city and our downtown public places.” In applying for the grant, Felipe Jr. said that El Sombrero needed to submit a detailed plan and budget for their renovations to seek approval from the SDC Board of Directors. Once they were approved, they received funding to renovate the northern and western-facing sides of the building — those visible by the surrounding roads.
With a newly renovated exterior and 20 years of business under their belts, the Aguirre family looks forward to many more years serving delicious Mexican food to the Dickinson community.
Olivia covers local news and community interest topics for The Dickinson Press. She is a graduate of Wheaton College in Illinois, where she studied English and played softball. For story tips or inquiries, you can reach Olivia at 701-456-1213 or ofeddeler@thedickinsonpress.com.
Dining and Cooking