Garibaldi Mexican Bistro, an Englewood eatery that opened in 2015 (at 3298 South Broadway) today is the tenth anniversary!), was popular for its terrific Mexico City-inspired food as well as its unusual location — we named it "Best Restaurant With a View of a Car Wash" in the Best of Denver 2017. The place did so well that the family who owned it opened a second Garibaldi in the Golden Triangle in 2018, but shut that spot just three months later because of lackluster business for the high rent.
Now the original has shuttered. Is it washed up?
"SEIZED," the notice taped to the front door says in no uncertain terms. "Warning, this property has been seized for nonpayment of taxes, and is now in the possession of the City of Englewood, Colorado."
The Garibaldi owners HAS launched a GoFundMe to raise the money to pay their back taxes and more:
Help Save Garibaldi Mexican Bistro – A Family-Owned Restaurant Built with LoveThe announcement was posted by Jina Gomez, the wife of restaurant owner Jesus Cruz. The family needs to raise $80,000, which includes $48,000 in taxes and penalties, as well as back rent. Cruz admits that he is in arrears for the taxes, but says that after the COVID shutdown he struggled with a drop in business and the need to pay his staff. He was also still recovering from the loss of his investment in the Golden Triangle location. "We applied for PPP loans but unfortunately, we applied a little late for them both times that they came out. So we didn't receive any government funding during the whole pandemic," he notes.
We’re reaching out today with full hearts and hopeful spirits to ask for your help in saving a place that’s become more than just a restaurant — Garibaldi Mexican Bistro has been our family’s labor of love for the past 11 years, and it’s been an honor to serve this community with the food and traditions that mean so much to us.
Garibaldi started with a dream — to share our family recipes, our culture, and the warmth of a home-cooked meal with the people of Englewood and all of Colorado. We built it from the ground up with our own hands, one dish at a time, and poured everything into it so that every guest who walked through our doors felt like part of our family.
Over the years, we’ve watched your children grow up at our tables, hosted countless birthday parties, celebrations, and quiet weekday dinners. We’ve seen first dates turn into weddings and strangers become regulars — all over a plate of carne asada tacos or a bowl of comforting pozole.
But now, Garibaldi is facing its hardest season yet.
The past few years have brought one challenge after another — from pandemic shutdowns to rising costs and unexpected kitchen repairs. We’ve done everything we can to stay open, but as a small, family-run business, we’re now in a position where we need your help to keep going.
We’re asking our community to help us raise $80,000 to:
Pay off our taxes
Catch up on rent
Keep our amazing staff employed
This restaurant isn’t backed by a big corporation — it’s run by our family, for yours. Every donation goes directly to keeping our doors open, keeping our team together, and keeping this dream alive.
If you’ve ever laughed around our tables, felt comforted by a warm meal after a long day, or just believe in supporting a local family trying to hold on to what they built — please consider donating or sharing this campaign.
"From our family to yours — thank you. We love this community, and we’re so grateful for every bit of support.
"With all our love,
-The Garibaldi Family"
He admits that doesn't excuse his nonpayment of taxes, but adds that he paid $27,000 he owed in state taxes in January after working out a payment plan. He'd set up a payment plan with Englewood, too, he says, but it was a "much higher" amount each month and "it became a little much and I fell behind."
He missed two payments. He was at home with his children on June 3 when his staff called and told him a man from the city was there to shut down Garibaldi and change the locks.
His avenue for raising the money to pay the taxes had been by keeping his restaurant open, he notes. With the business shut, he and his family decided that a GoFundMe campaign might be their only chance.
The family has a long way to go: Eight hours after the campaign was launched on June 5, only $270 had been raised.
The GoFundMe is at gofundme.com/f/keep-garibaldi-mexican-bistros-dream-alive.
