Imagine being so beloved by co-workers that even after you’re gone they celebrate your memory with a holiday. For Felipe Mercado of the Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant in Fort Collins, this is exactly what happened.
“We treat each other decently and take care of one another at work,” said founder and owner Pat McGaughran, who now operates five versions of the Tex-Mex restaurant across Colorado. Felipe, he added, gave so much to the restaurant from the get go.
Loyalty From the Beginning
McGaughran met Mercado before the first Rio Grande opened its doors in 1986. The first iteration of the restaurant was in Fort Collins, where Mercado’s story starts and ends. The two knew each other through a work connection, a place Mercado worked as a dishwasher. After that spot closed, Mercado made his way to Rio Grande, helping it get off the ground as a daytime dishwasher and pantry stocker.
Described by McGaughran as a man of few words, Mercado had a special way of communicating what he wanted and needed. Often his words were accompanied with gestures, almost as if he was miming. It wasn’t just Mercado’s hands moving, McGaughran added, often he would dance his way through the kitchen, spreading laughter and good spirits along the way. A covert joker, on occasion, Mercado would drop something, claiming it was actually a ruse and a playful bid for attention.
Life Inside and Outside Rio Grande
For decades Mercado worked for the Rio Grande in Fort Collins. To McGaughran and the staff he remained a staple, a happy face, and a kind human helping the restaurant run.
Outside of the restaurant, Mercado lived quietly in downtown Fort Collins, spending his free time at local bars, challenging opponents to a game of pool while drinking his signature bottle of cold Budweiser. During the holidays “Felipe Claus” would come out, handing out Christmas gifts with a jolly “ho, ho, ho.” Once the small man was asked who he was, and without missing a beat he answered, “the security guard,” while everyone roared with laughter.
It was these memories that not only made Mercado special to McGaughran, but to the whole staff and customers who got to know him. As he grew older, he took on the role of sweeping and keeping the crew entertained.
“[We kept him on because] that was home, and we needed him there,” said McGaughran. Everyone who knew Felipe understood his essence and the quiet but profound way he impacted those around him. He passed away peacefully in his sleep on October 18, 2009, and was laid to rest locally.
Felipe Day Gets Celebrated
Since Felipe’s time, Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant has grown to five locations along the Front Range, adapting to the current unpredictable dining trends while staying true to its Tex-Mex roots.
“We were a scratch kitchen before it was a fad,” added the owner. “We use base ingredients, hand make recipes from chiles and other elements, and it’s a labor of love.”
So too was the restaurant’s relationship with Mercado, which is why each year on October 18 all five Rio Grande locations celebrate the man. Dubbed Felipe Day, the staff honors his memory with $1 Budweisers, his favorite drink, and plenty of jokes all day long. Join the party, and raise a glass to a great man.
Visit Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant daily. Multiple locations, riograndemexican.com
