Los
Angeles County
Biographies
SENORA
CONSUELO CASTILLO DE BONZO
One of the outstanding women in Los
Angeles is Senora Consuelo Castillo de Bonzo, owner of the unique restaurant
known as the Casa La Golondrina Café, located at 35 Olvera street,
in a building with an historic background, for it was the first brick building
erected in the city of Los Angeles.
Senora de Bonzo was born at Aguas Caliente, Mexico, a daughter of Daniel
and Refugio Castillo, who came to Los Angeles to make their home when their
daughter was a child. Here she attended
the public, parochial, and high schools, and on August 26, 1917, married John
A. Bonzo. They have three sons: Alfred, Edward, and Richard.
From 1920 to 1922 Senora de Bonzo
was successfully engaged in the real estate business in Los Angeles. However, in 1923 she conceived the idea of a
first-class restaurant where real Mexican and Spanish dishes would be served,
and she opened the La Mision Café at 132 South Spring street. She soon built up a good business, catering
only to the best people of the city. As
her business grew she enlarged her quarters by locating at her present address,
35 Olvera street. Here she serves only
the very best dishes prepared from Mexican and Spanish recipes, and attracts
only lovers of a good cuisine, but those who also enjoy the picturesque
surroundings.
Senora de Bonzo has always taken a
very active interest in charitable and welfare work in her adopted city among
the Mexican families, and has accomplished much good. During the Tenth Olympiad she was chosen the
official Mexican hostess, and carried out her duties with great ability. She is much interested in music and the
spoken drama, and has acted as patroness to many Mexican artists in developing
their talents, and in furthering their own careers as singers, dancers and
musicians. Senora de Bonzo is a member
of the Business Y Professional Women’s Club, and of the Los Angeles Chamber of
Commerce. She believes in Los Angeles
and has gained a large circle of friends there.
Transcribed by Mary
Ellen Frazier.
Source:
California of the South Vol. V, by John Steven McGroarty,
Pages 777-778, Clarke Publ., Chicago, Los Angeles, Indianapolis. 1933.
© 2013 Mary Ellen Frazier.
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NUGGET'S LOS ANGELES BIOGRAPHIES