San Juan Capistrano in Orange County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Nick's Café
aka Mexico Lindo / San Juan Saloon / Vaquero West
Photographed By Adam Margolis, June 5, 2016
1. Nick's Café Marker
Inscription.
Nick's Café. aka Mexico Lindo, also, San Juan Saloon, also, Vaquero West. This building façade was built in 1938 by Nick and Canuta Arbonies as a home and restaurant which replaced an earlier building that was the first train stationmaster's house and office. The Arbonies were both born in the Basque Navarra region of Spain and immigrated to the United States between 1917 and 1922. Many of San Juan Capistrano's Basques were sheepherders, but another important part of local Basque history was about cultural and social gatherings and the hospitality of the restaurants, homes, and boardinghouses also known as "ostatuak." The simple two-story building was originally called "Nick's Café" and it was an important social gathering place for the community.
This building façade was built in 1938 by Nick and Canuta Arbonies as a home and restaurant which replaced an earlier building that was the first train stationmaster's house and office. The Arbonies were both born in the Basque Navarra region of Spain and immigrated to the United States between 1917 and 1922. Many of San Juan Capistrano's Basques were sheepherders, but another important part of local Basque history was about cultural and social gatherings and the hospitality of the restaurants, homes, and boardinghouses also known as "ostatuak." The simple two-story building was originally called "Nick's Café" and it was an important social gathering place for the community.
Location. 33° 30.082′ N, 117° 39.81′ W. Marker is in San Juan Capistrano, California, in Orange County. Marker is on Verdugo Street, 0.1 miles west of Camino Capistrano, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 26755 Verdugo St, San Juan Capistrano CA 92675, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Capistrano Depot (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named The Capistrano Depot
Credits. This page was last revised on December 29, 2021. It was originally submitted on December 21, 2021, by Adam Margolis of Mission Viejo, California. This page has been viewed 344 times since then and 77 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on December 21, 2021, by Adam Margolis of Mission Viejo, California. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
