Marker Logo
THE HISTORICAL
MARKER DATABASE
“Bite-Size Bits of Local, National, and Global History”
Near El Centro in Imperial County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
 

Camacho's Place and Cafι

 
 
Camacho's Place and Cafι Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Bill Kirchner, December 15, 2012
1. Camacho's Place and Cafι Marker
Inscription. Camacho's Place was opened for business on December 12, 1946 by Richard Camacho and his wife, Juanita. It is erected on the site of a former Seventh-Day Adventist church and school that had been damaged and abandoned following a major earthquake on December 31, 1926.

The building is an early example of sustainable construction, with many discarded materials used in its construction. The concrete floors are reinforced with steel from old automobiles and bed springs. Walls and ceiling beams are formed from surplus railroad ties. The heavy doors used to secure the building originated with the El Centro railroad station.

From its beginning, Camacho's Place served the farm workers of the Imperial Valley, not only as a restaurant and bar but also as a mercantile and pool hall. The store and pool hall closed in 1964 and the large front room housing them was converted to an additional dining area.

The good food was discovered by the farmers, the people in town and local military. Locals can count on meeting their friends when they go to Camacho's. From a humble beginning in the country, their renowned food has been sent worldwide from the place that is "hard to find but worth it".
 
Erected 2010 by the Ancient and Honorable Order of E Clampus Vitus.
 
Topics and series.
Paid Advertisement
Click or scan to see
this page online
This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & CommerceNotable Buildings. In addition, it is included in the E Clampus Vitus series list. A significant historical month for this entry is December 1933.
 
Location. 32° 43.418′ N, 115° 36.147′ W. Marker is near El Centro, California, in Imperial County. It is at the intersection of West Wahl Road and Nichols Road, on the right when traveling west on West Wahl Road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: El Centro CA 92243, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s Imperial Valley. It is also in the American Southwest. Globally, it is in North America, on the Ring of Fire, in the Pacific Rim, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Rock Art (approx. 5.2 miles away); Mormon Battalion (approx. 5.2 miles away); Yuha Well (approx. 5.2 miles away); Women's 10,000 Club (approx. 5.3 miles away); Imperial Valley Press (approx. 5.4 miles away); Hotel De Anza (approx. 7.3 miles away); Camp Salvation (approx. 7.4 miles away); Calexico Carnegie Library (approx. 7.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in El Centro.
 
Camacho's Place and Cafι Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Bill Kirchner, December 15, 2012
2. Camacho's Place and Cafι Marker
Camacho's Place and Cafι image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Bill Kirchner, December 15, 2012
3. Camacho's Place and Cafι
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on December 23, 2012, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 1,857 times since then and 65 times this year. Photos:   1, 2, 3. submitted on December 23, 2012, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.
m=62073

CeraNet Cloud Computing sponsors the Historical Marker Database.
This website earns income from purchases you make after using our links to Amazon.com. We appreciate your support.
Paid Advertisement
Jun. 17, 2026