Bandido’s Mexican Cafe
Bandido’s Mexican Cafe has been part of Franklin Street life since 1995, drawing students and locals for late-night plates, lively conversation, and a family-run feel that has lasted across generations.
The restaurant sits in the basement of the Strowd Building, a two-bay commercial block completed in 1922 for local developer Robert L. Strowd, built by Brodie Stewart Thompson. Early tenants chart the growth of downtown: Carolina Dry Cleaners opened in the basement in early 1923, Orange Print Shop followed that May, and L&L Beauty Shop is listed by 1936. In July 1923 the west bay became Sutton & Alderman Drugstore, the start of Sutton’s that remains a Franklin Street icon. 123
The Strowd Basement would also house Charles Hopkins Jewelry Store, which opened around 1955, remaining in business until Hopkins’ passing in 1971. An acclaimed artisan, Hopkins first discovered his talent for jewelry design during World War II, when— stranded off a Pacific Island— he deconstructed the wing of a downed Japanese aircraft, crafting rings, bracelets, and other pieces from the wiring. Upon his return to the States, Hopkins would perfect his craft, eventually establishing his storefront and showcasing his jewelry in several museums, both national and abroad. 4
In addition, throughout the 1960s, The Chapel Hill Weekly published several advertisements for a secretarial college, to be held at the 159 ½ E. Franklin Street address. 5
The basement entrance opens onto Amber Alley, a passage that predates 1948 but gained its name that year when Rathskeller founder Ted Danziger hung yellow lanterns along the brick walls. The alley still links Franklin Street to a network of small businesses and is part of the walk-in, word-of-mouth culture that shaped downtown dining. 6
On a 1995 trip to Chapel Hill, Toni Sustaita made Franklin Street History. While out exploring, Sustaita fell in love with the area, deciding he just had to open a restaurant in town.
A few months later, Sustaita and his wife moved to Chapel Hill, taking on the lease at 159 ½ E. Franklin Street. The space, most recently a bar, required significant renovation before opening. So, the Sustaitas rolled up their sleeves and got to work, restoring the kitchen, constructing booths by hand, and completing the space with fresh paint and hanging string lights.
Sustaita expressed especially feeling the support of the small business community on Franklin during this time, receiving help with parking from the Shrunken Head Family and frequent “mistake batches” of the legendary lasagna and spirits from the kitchen staff at the Rathskeller.
Following its grand opening, Bandido’s was an immediate success. In particular, students flocked to the restaurant, largely due to its late hours of operation. Now celebrating over 30 years in business, Antoni Sustaita’s son, Tony, runs the restaurant. With its memorable atmosphere, affordable eats, and signature traditions, such as the El Gigante Challenge— in which customers attempt to finish a nearly 5 pound burrito in under an hour, Bandido’s has truly earned its spot as a beloved Franklin Street staple. 7
Citations
- Slane, Heather Wagner. “Chapel Hill Historic District Boundary Increase and Additional Documentation.” NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES | NORTH CAROLINA STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE, 16 Apr. 2015.
↩︎ - “Carolina Dry Cleaners Advertisement.” The Tar Heel, 6 Oct. 1922. ↩︎
- “L & L Beauty Shop Advertisement.” The Daily Tar Heel, 2 Oct. 1936. ↩︎
- Johnson, Vera. “See Charles Hopkins | Jeweler’s Imagination.” The Daily Tar Heel, 5 July 1968. ↩︎
- “Secretarial College Advertisement.” The Chapel Hill Weekly, 21 Aug. 1961. ↩︎
- Chapel Hill Weekly, October 8, 1948 ↩︎
Images, Cited Chronologically
- Wootten, B. (1947). Strowd Building, Chapel Hill [Photograph]. Open Orange NC.
- Rams Head Rathskeller in Chapel Hill, #3 [Photograph]. (1983). Chapel Hill Historical Society.
- Lewis, V. (2020, August 13). Bandido’s is back open for business in Chapel Hill [Photograph]. Chapelboro Magazine.