Spivey gives appreciation for outpouring of love upon news of retirement and Los Amigos closing

Forty years ago, Bobbie Spivey purchased a restaurant from the late Ruth Price in Graceville. Called Los Amigos, the restaurant had been open two years prior and with the help and support of family and friends, Spivey decided to give small town restaurant ownership a try. While she knew she was gaining a business, she never realized how many friends and memories she would also receive. From friends that became family to bonding with her sisters and daughter as they pushed through the trenches of owning a small business, Bobbie commented she was excited to retire but so grateful for the love and memories.

When asked what she would remember most about her years as owner of Los Amigos, Spivey commented with a laugh, “When I first bought it, I had two of my sisters and my daughter and it was so fun. None of us knew anything about Mexican food and all of us were just figuring it out.” New business ownership was a feat even in 1984 and Spivey commented that it was the support and hard work of her sisters Catherine Lee and Betty Langford as well as her daughter Nancy who helped her make Los Amigos a 40-plus year success.

She continued speaking about “Sunday Dinners” and how all four of the ladies were proud of that specific part of the business because it “was the hardest thing we accomplished.” She went on to say that the restaurant would be packed every Sunday after church and even though all four worked tirelessly they all “came out with a grin on our face”.

She went on to add that owning Los Amigos didn’t just allow her and her family to become closer, but it also allowed her to grow her family through customers, employees, and friends who would become family over the 40 years. When news of retirement became public, Bobbie commented that her favorite part these last few days had been “To watch the young families come in now that were babies [in the beginning].” She went on to speak about how wonderful it had been to watch three and four generations of a family grow and change through the years, noting watching babies grow up and have their own babies is a wonderful thing.

Spivey then spoke about her employees through the past 40 years, always calling them “my girls”, Bobbie was quick to say every single person that worked at Los Amigos was family even if not by blood. She added that her husband the late Earl Spivey felt the same way always excited to meet new customers at the restaurant. She mentioned that his love for Los Amigos shown through in everything he did until his passing.

Bobbie noted in an interview with The Graceville News that while money helped pay the bill, Los Amigos gave her memories and love, the two things that are priceless. She stated on one thing she is forever grateful for being, “Loving the people you meet as customers and the employees that I was blessed to have.” She continued, “It was really rewarding to get to meet that many people in my lifetime when a lot of people don’t get to do that.”

As for the future of Los Amigos, Spivey hopes the restaurant will sell and someone will continue on creating great food and helping families make great memories in the future. As for Spivey, well she plans on seeing those sisters and daughter a little more adding, “I just look forward to being able to spend a lot of time with them.”

She finished thanking the community for its unwavering love and support through the years. She also gave appreciation to all who had stopped by to enjoy one last meal at Los Amigos in May noting, “There were some it took all I could do to keep from crying… some that I hadn’t seen in years.” She ended giving thanks to her family especially her sisters and “girls” for “never letting me down,” and to the community stating, “It was just thrilling to know that many people cared and liked me and liked eating in the restaurant. I was truly happy about that it really touched my heart.”

PHOTO CUTLINES:

(TOP) Bobbie Spivey with sister Catherine Lee.

(BOTTOM) Bobbie and Earl Spivey.

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