“South Park” creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker have revived, revamped, and renovated the iconic Colorado restaurant called Casa Bonita and explained their reasoning on NBC News’ “Today” show.
The landmark, which has seen bouts with bankruptcy and dilapidation, received a $40 million facelift from the show creators, who say they went there as children, even crafting a “South Park” episode around the location.
In 2003, an episode titled “Casa Bonita” featured the character Cartman tricking his friend into thinking a meteor was going to hit the Earth so that he could enjoy the restaurant by himself. Despite being arrested and sent to juvenile detention for a week, Cartman said it was “totally” worth it.
With 500 jobs reportedly available at the revamped location, Parker told NBC’s Harry Smith, “It’s not a joke.” Parker explained “it had become a joke, and we were sad that it had become a joke because you could see what this place was in the 70’s when they built it. They were trying to make a little Disneyland here.”
“Restoration is a better word than renovation,” Stone added. “It would cost way less to rebuild this and make a better version of it down the road.” Regarding the final price tag on the “restoration,” Stone estimated “close to infinity. It approaches infinity.”
On the Casa Bonita YouTube channel, Stone and Parker made a special announcement alongside Dana Rodriguez, the new executive chef. The group announced in December 2022 that Casa Bonita would open in May 2023, but unfortunately they missed the mark.
In early June 2023, however, the New York Times reported about the updating of the restaurant’s food, which had been the basis for the nickname “Casa NoEata.” Parker said that “the food is excellent” now that Chef Rodriguez, a six-time James Beard Award nominee, is at the helm.
“It doesn’t stink like chlorine any more,” Stone reportedly said in May 2023 interview. “We spent so much [money] restoring it, like a piece of art,” he added.
Stone also said that Parker was going through an “emotional roller coaster” with the restoration and was “feeling it as much as Cartman was.”
The “South Park” cartoon has still flourished during the new venture and sparked international response with an episode called “The Worldwide Privacy Tour.” The episode reportedly enraged ex-royals Meghan Markle and Prince Harry for days.
The Casa Bonita website is collecting emails for a restaurant “beta testing” and says it will pull names from its email list to offer customers an exclusive chance at dining, due to overwhelming interest.
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