Spokane restaurant, grocery owner takes over Alberto's

Mario De Leon of De Leon's Foods, Mexican Restaurant, Deli and Grocery in Spokane is bringing his authentic Mexican food to Bonners Ferry.

De Leon along with his wife Graciela have bought Alberto’s and the restaurant will now be called Mario’s.

Mario’s officially opens on Saturday, Jan. 29, at 6 a.m. and is located at 6536 Main St. in Bonners Ferry.

Mario’s  will be open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays serving breakfast including huevos rancheros, chorizo and eggs and more. They will be open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The DeLeons make and package their own tortillas and tortilla chips and will be selling them at Mario’s.

The menu will have authentic and traditional Mexican recipes as well as Tex Mex style.  The DeLeon’s make everything fresh. Some of the items will include pulled pork and home made soups such as menudo and pozale. They will also offer home made sauces and salsa, tacos de asada and barbacoa.

“The transition is going very well,” said Mario.  “Connie and I have been working together to gets things in order for the opening.”

The DeLeons came as migrants to Brownsvilles Tex., in 1977.  They moved to Chicago and New York before ending up in Portland Ore., in 1989. The DeLeons opened their first restaurant and tortilla factory in Portland Ore., in 1999 then another five years ago in Spokane.  Mario’s brother is running the Spokane restaurant while his parents take care of the Portland business.

“We have tortilla factories in the other two locations and make and package tortillas and tortilla chips there as well,” said DeLeon.

One day Mario said he would like to have a tortilla factory on site here in Bonners Ferry. 

“The tortillas and chips are a favorite,” said DeLeon.

Connie Mier y Teran has owned Alberto’s for many years in Bonners Ferry.  She decided to sell the business so she can spend more time traveling back and forth to Mexico.  She works as a translator with Boundary County Courts and she also works at Northwest Academy.

"I am helping Mario get acquainted with vendors, community and the equipment and making introductions to customers," said Mier y Teran.  "I think Mario will be very successful here in Bonners Ferry."

Mario said he would like to speak with the principals of the schools to set up free lunches for students chosen as student of the week.  He would also like to work something out with the Spanish classes.

“We want to be a part of the community,” DeLeon said.  “Our friends and customers who live here have told us for years what a nice place Bonners Ferry is, and now we are here.”

The DeLeons would like to expand along the line and hope to bring great Mexican food to the people of Bonners Ferry.

For information, call 267-267-3410.