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The patio at the original location of El Molino Mexican Cafe at 117 S. 2nd Street, Phoenix, AZ
The patio at El Molino's current location at 3554 N. Goldwater Blvd, Suite D, Scottsdale, AZ
Read here about the Carbajal family and how it is we have El Molino Mexican Cafe to enjoy today! |
Maria Munoz |
Today, Richard Carbajal, Jr owns and operates El Molino Mexican Cafe. His Great-Grandmother, Maria Munoz, was born Maria Flores in Chihuahua, Mexico and came to New Mexico with her family in 1893 at the age of 10. The family moved around quite a bit in the Southwest and in 1903, Maria met and married Julian Munoz. In 1907 she was widowed with two daughters, Ruth and Rosa, and a son, Julian on the way. Maria supported herself and her children finding domestic work wherever she could. In 1924, Rosa married Joe Carbajal and the family settled in Morenci, Arizona. |
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The Carbajal family has its roots in Spain. In 1830 Jesus Carbajal and his brother Thomas, sailed from Spain to Tampico, Mexico and soon after moved North near Chihuahua, Mexico. Jesus' son, Jose moved to Clifton, AZ in 1878. He sold mules, horses and donkeys and worked in the copper mines for a living and eventually moved to the nearby town of Morenci. Joe was Jose's son. Joe studied engineering at New Mexico State University. Due to a lack of money he did not finish his final year but turned out to be an excellent machinist. He was known for his ability to make anything out of metal. |
Joe Carbajal and his invention - the first refrigerated tamale making machine |
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The Carbajal family earned a living in the nearby copper mines but in 1933 the mines closed in the height of the Depression. The family, including Joe and Rosa and their children, was forced to move to find work in the Phoenix, AZ area. Joe found work as a machinist for the Phelps-Dodge Company. In 1936 he crafted the first mannequin out of iron which was shipped to San Francisco for the World's Fair. Because Rosa was armed with her mother's original tamale recipe, she was able to successfully sell them to local restaurants and chuck wagons to supplement the family's income. When a Chinese owner of the Saguaro Restaurant wanted to order two dozen tamales, he misspoke and ordered 2,000 tamales. Rosa quickly gathered family and friends and made the 2000 tamales in record time before the error was discovered. The extra tamales were sold for 5 cents apiece to a wide variety of people. It was through this experience that the family realized they could operate a thriving business. And Joe, the engineer, invented and was granted a patent for the first refrigerated tamale making machine. With this, the concept for El Molino Mexican Cafe was born. And it continues it's tradition of authentic Mexican food today. The location has changed from Phoenix to Scottsdale but Maria Munoz's original recipes that were handed down to her daughter Rosa Carbajal remain the same. And the present owner Richie Carbajal says they always will. |
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COMING SOON: LISTEN TO A MORE DETAILED AUDIO ACCOUNT OF THE EL MOLINO STORY. |
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