History | Pico De Gallo

On South Leona

38 years after founding the world-famous Mi Tierra Café & Bakery, Pedro and Cruz Cortez opened their second restaurant, La Carreta Mexican Steak House, on South Leona Street — just two blocks away from Historic Market Square.

In 1991, their sons, Jorge and David Cortez, remodeled and rebranded it as Restaurante Pico de Gallo, which became a popular spot for locals, famed for its savory parrilladas (barbecued meats). The two were subsequently recognized by the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce for their efforts to preserve and enrich the city’s historic and culinary culture.

Today, La Familia Cortez Restaurants (now comprised of five destination eateries) serve nearly 40,000 hungry guests combined, every week.

1941

Pedro Cortez purchases La Jamaica No. 5, a three-table café in the heart of El Mercado for $150.

1947

Pedro installs an air conditioning system in the café and advertises it on all his windows.

1951

Pedro purchases the Toyo Café and renames it Mi Tierra Café.

1955

Pedro buys the property next to Mi Tierra and adds a bakery.

1961

Pedro and Cruz buy the entire block of El Mercado.

1965

The Federal Urban Renewal Agency comes sweeping through the west end of downtown.

1966

Pedro becomes a strong activist for Market Square and the community.

1968

Pedro closes Jamaica No. 5 and works hard on reviving and repositioning Mi Tierra to maximize its full potential.

1971

Market Square undergoes a major multi-million-dollar renovation.

1979

Pedro and Cruz open a second restaurant, La Carreta Mexican Steakhouse.

1980

Pedro is recognized by the National Economic Development Association for the instrumental role he played in the revitalization of Market Square.

1981

The Cortez Family opens La Margarita Restaurant and Oyster Bar, offering “Sizzling Fajitas” and seafood.

1984

The family is deeply saddened by Pedro’s untimely death.

1989

Mi Tierra Café y Panadería’ s newest addition, the Mariachi Bar, opens in the space next to Mi Tierra.

1990

The Cortez Family hires artist Jesus Garza to create an indoor floor to ceiling fresco on the walls of Mi Tierra that commemorates Mexican culture and history.

1991

La Carreta is remodeled and rebranded to Restaurante Pico de Gallo.

1995

Mi Tierra proudly completes a $750,000 renovation on its kitchen without closing the restaurant for even an hour.

2002

Pedro Cortez is inducted into the San Antonio Business Hall of Fame.

2003

The Senate of the State of Texas recognizes Pedro and Cruz Cortez as exemplary citizens of their city and the state of Texas.

2004

Pedro and Cruz receive the Henry Guerra Lifetime Achievement Award from the San Antonio Association of Hispanic Journalists (SAAHJ).

2005

Pedro is posthumously honored as the recipient of the National Conference for Community and Justice Humanitarian Award.

2007

The Ecumenical Center for Education Counseling Health honors La Familia Cortez with the San Antonio Ethics in Business Award.

2009

The Cortez Family is honored by the Mexican American Unity Council, Inc. with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

2011

La Familia Cortez is honored at the 9th Annual American Sunrise Gala.

2015

La Familia Cortez opens its latest concept, Viva Villa Taquería, under the management of Chef Cariño Cortez, Pedro’s granddaughter.

2016

La Familia Cortez receives the Exitos en Nuestro Barrio Business Award from The Westside Development Corporation.

2016

La Familia Cortez marks its 75th Anniversary.

The Mural

When Pedro Cortez founded Mi Tierra in 1941, he was passionate about the need to preserve San Antonio’s Mexican culture. Since his passing in 1984, the Cortez family has championed the redevelopment of the west end of downtown into a “Zona Cultural,” San Antonio’s own version of the bustling Zona Rosa district in Mexico City.

The Cortez family strongly believes that public art is one of the most important ways to communicate our past, present, and future. Their latest contribution is the Celebración a Mi Madre (Celebration to My Mother) mural, which honors Ms. Rosie Castro, mother of former Mayor Julián and Congressman Joaquín Castro, and all Mexican-American mothers in San Antonio. Painted in oil by artist Armando Sánchez, the boldly colorful 33 foot mural adorns the interior of Restaurante Pico de Gallo in celebration of our Hispanic culture. Each of the individuals depicted is a leader in our community in the arts, medical, and educational fields, representing “Lo Mejor de lo Nuestro.”

Celebración a Mi Madre by Artist Armando Sánchez

San Antonio native Armando Sánchez has been painting the city’s people and landscapes for the past 30 years. Channeling his Chicano and Tex-Mex roots, the prolific painter skillfully captures the drama and energy of Mexican traditions and history in a vibrant style that’s become his signature. His portrait of Mexican revolutionary leader Emiliano Zapata has become a focal point of the Cortez family landmark, Mi Tierra Café & Bakery. A master of multiple mediums, Sanchez is renowned for his watercolors depicting Mexican-American culture. His works are included in the personal collections of Jose Feliciano, Cheech Marin, Mick Jagger, and the University of Texas System Chancellor, Mark Yudof. The University of Texas at San Antonio has also selected a diverse array of his paintings for their collection of prominent South Texas artists.

Place Your Cursor Over The Mural To See Who's Who

Guadalupe Garcia

Fernando Herrera

Willie Velasquez

Flaco Jimenez

Rosemary Kowalski

Pedro Cortez

Jesse Borrego

Henry B. Gonzalez

Tino Duran

Andy Benavides

Luis Lopez

Rosita Fernandez

Dr. Ellen Riojas-Clark

Jorge Ramos

David Medina

Elaine Mendoza

Gabriel Velasquez

Jose Luis Rivera Barrera

Félix Padrón

Raul Salazar

Henry Cisneros

Judge Albert Peña, Jr.

John Quiñonez

Dolores Huerta

Dr. Carmen Tafolla

Jorge Cortez

Lydia Mendoza

John Sharp

Rosa Rosales

Selena Quintanilla-Perez

Ruben Cortez

Manuel Cortez

Dr. Maria Hernandez Ferrier

Lionel Sosa

Henry Muñoz III

Victoria Castro

Mayor Julián Castro

Rosie Castro

Congressman Joaquin Castro

Patty Ortiz

David Cortez

Jessie Treviño

Ernest Bromley

Dr. Ricardo Romo

Sanda Cisneros

Dr. Jesse Zapata

Little Joe

Guillermo Hoyos

Robert Ytuarte

Rolando Pablos

Cesar Chavez

Jaime Martinez

Esteban "Steve" Jordan

Diego Bernal

Gini Garcia

Jesus Garza Diaz

Commissioner Paul Elizondo

Sunny Ozuna

Henry "El Zapatista" Rodriguez

Leticia Van de Putte

Vikki Carr

Emma Tenayuca

Father David Garcia

Cesar Martinez

Henry "The Fox" Muñoz

M Sgt. Roy Benavidez

dan Hernandez

Al Reddon

Freddy Fender

Dr. Felix D. Almaraz

Tomas Ybarra-Frausto

Nephtalí De Leon

Jesus "Chista" Cantu

Armando Sánchez