Tag: Tio Pepe

  • How an immigrant built a restaurant empire in NYC

    How an immigrant built a restaurant empire in NYC


    A man in suit and tie standing next to a brick fireplace.
    Jimmy Sanz, owner of six NYC restaurants, in front of Tio Pepe’s wood stove. (Photo/Kristina Puga)

    When one sees Jimmy Sanz walking hastily along West 4th Street in New York City, one wonders where this retired-aged man is running off to in his tweed suit and perfectly combed white hair.

    At 75, Sanz is founder and owner of six NYC restaurants – Tio Pepe, Las Ramblas, The Taco Shop, Burrito Loco, Da Rosina and Casa Pepe – the first four of which are neighbors on West 4th Street. He considers the West Village his home now for the past 55 years. That wasn’t always the case though.

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