La Mariposa celebrates grand opening of new Longmont restaurant
Apr. 23—The wait is over for Longmont fans of La Mariposa Mexican Restaurant, as Tuesday marked the grand opening of the business's new location in the city.
The previous Longmont home for the Northern Colorado Mexican restaurant chain was inside a strip mall at 1240 Ken Pratt Blvd. Now, the restaurant lives just down the street inside a building at 2033 Ken Pratt Blvd., which was most recently occupied by Beau Jo's pizza restaurant.
The move comes after more than three decades of growth for La Mariposa. The family-owned chain, started by Mexican immigrants Rene and Maria Cervantes, began as a burrito shop at the original Longmont location. The business has expanded since then to include restaurants in Boulder, Lyons and Greeley.
"I've been working with the (Cervantes) family for about 10 years now, and they are the example of the American dream," said Jorge Murillo, marketing director for La Mariposa.
This month marks 37 years since La Mariposa first opened its doors in Longmont. Rene Cervantes Jr., son of La Mariposa's co-founders, said it has long been his parents' dream to have their restaurant in a freestanding building in the city where they met and became entrepreneurs.
"These two folks have been our example," Rene Cervantes Jr. said of his parents. "Day and night, rain or shine, for somebody else and for their own, they were always there to work. That's what they've instilled in us."
The Spanish term "la mariposa" translates to "the butterfly." At the new location, the butterfly theme is on full display with murals and art pieces on the walls depicting the colorful insects.
On Tuesday, the restaurant opened at 8 a.m. to treat early-bird guests to a taste of La Mariposa's breakfast menu. From "piña colada" French toast to "tres leches" pancakes, the breakfast is a new step for the chain and will be offered at its other locations as well.
The Longmont Area Chamber of Commerce also came to the grand opening to conduct a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The Cervantes family and the restaurant's staff stood together as a large gold ribbon was cut, and confetti filled the air.
"We are here to celebrate this amazing legacy of a family," said Wendi Braden, director of membership for the Chamber.
The ceremony also unveiled a surprise for the restaurant's founders — a framed photo of Rene and Maria Cervantes on the entrance wall, complete with the story of how La Mariposa came to be.
The ceremony was attended by dozens of community members who came to celebrate the Cervantes family and their accomplishments. Guests were invited inside the restaurant after the event to enjoy tacos, drinks and mariachi music performed on the rooftop deck.
"The community has embraced us tremendously," Cervantes said.
Rene and Maria Cervantes attended the grand opening alongside their family members, and Rene expressed gratitude for how much support the business has received over the years.
"I want to thank the community, especially Longmont," Rene Cervantes said. "Longmont has been our home."
La Mariposa Longmont is open from 8 a.m. to midnight Monday through Saturday, and 9:30 a.m. to noon on Sunday.
