Saying Goodbye to Cristina’s Mexican RestaurantIn a small town, there are places that become more than businesses—they become part of our identity. For years, Cristina’s Mexican Restaurant wasn’t just where we went for enchiladas, tamales, and their famously delicious cheeseburgers; it was where we gathered. Birthdays were celebrated there. Graduations toasted. First dates nervously launched over shared baskets of chips and salsa. And now, with its closing, our community feels a little less like home.The Ramirez family brought more than authentic Mexican cuisine to our town—they brought heart. Whether it was Adolfo and Claudia greeting guests at the door with a smile, or Christina and Aurea remembering your usual order, they treated everyone who walked in as family. Their restaurant was a bridge between generations, languages, and neighbors—something rare and invaluable in any community.#placement_573654_0_i{width:100%;max-width:550px;margin:0 auto;}var rnd = window.rnd || Math.floor(Math.random()*10e6);var pid573654 = window.pid573654 || rnd;var plc573654 = window.plc573654 || 0;var abkw = window.abkw || '';var absrc = 'https://ads.empowerlocal.co/adserve/;ID=181918;size=0x0;setID=573654;type=js;sw='+screen.width+';sh='+screen.height+';spr='+window.devicePixelRatio+';kw='+abkw+';pid='+pid573654+';place='+(plc573654++)+';rnd='+rnd+';click=CLICK_MACRO_PLACEHOLDER';var _absrc = absrc.split("type=js"); absrc = _absrc[0] + 'type=js;referrer=' + encodeURIComponent(document.location.href) + _absrc[1];document.write('');The closure of Cristina’s is a reminder that even beloved institutions are not immune to the pressures of rising costs, long hours, and the challenges of small business ownership; it takes a toll on many family-owned establishments. Still, it’s hard not to feel a deep sense of loss when a place so deeply woven into our town’s fabric turns off its lights for the last time.But the impact of the Ramirez family doesn’t end at the closing of their doors. They have shaped our community with their generosity, resilience, and spirit. Whether it was donating meals to local fundraisers, supporting school events, delivering food to homebound customers, selling hungry teenagers bean burritos for one dollar, or simply being a place people felt welcome, they showed what it means to care about where you live and who you serve.We thank them—not just for the meals, but for the memories. For the stories shared across their tables. For the laughter echoing through their dining room. And for reminding us that the best communities are built around food, family, and connection.They may no longer serve meals, but the Ramirez family has already left a legacy that will nourish our hearts for years to come.Ann (McClendon) RosenbaumCrescent City, CA googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('ad-1515727'); });