Our history
The very first Nico’s Mexican Food (est. 1982) was not an overnight success. San Diego already offered a lot of variety in Mexican food and the market was quite competitive. However, on Thanksgiving Day that first year, Nico made a decision that would turn his small business into a huge success — he decided to keep his restaurant open whereas others closed their doors for the holiday. On that fateful day, a great number of people visited Nico’s, and the food they ate there was so good, that they all just kept coming back (and brought their friends and family along too).
Nico inspired his brothers and sisters to open their own Nico’s Mexican Food locations as well. His brother Prieto eventually brought the concept to Arizona, where he saw yet more opportunity to grow. Arizona did not offer many casual, fast-food style Mexican food restaurants, so the first Nico’s shop opened in Tucson. Prieto gave his Nico’s a fresh new look, and the restaurant grew to be extremely popular in Arizona as well.
