It’s hard to believe that a quarter century has passed since the attacks of September 11, 2001. That day changed the world.
Our magazine was called El Restaurante Mexicano back then, but we were still writing about the Mexican and Latin restaurant industry in much the same way that we do now.
In the issue that immediately followed 9/11, Kathleen Furore wrote this in her editor’s note:
"When we started planning this issue, 911 was just an emergency phone number and anthrax was some vague, almost unheard of disease associated with cattle. As we all know, everything has changed.
"There isn’t much to say that hasn’t already been said about Sept. 11 and its aftermath. Our staff was lucky. We knew no one hurt or killed in the attacks. To those whose friends or family were directly affected (including Rubio’s Baja Grill, who lost employee Timothy Ward on American Flight 175), we offer our condolences.
"Unfortunately, the restaurant industry has taken a hit, due in large part to the tourism decline caused by the terrorist attacks. But our lives and businesses must go on."
Naturally, we didn’t know what was ahead for the world and the industry: 20 straight years of war, COVID, environmental calamities, political upheaval…it’s been quite a ride since September 11, 2001.
Kathleen wrote in that 25-year-old editorial that our staff was lucky on that fateful day, and the truth is, despite the craziness of the quarter century since then, we still feel lucky. We continue to publish this magazine (now in its 30th year), the Mexican/Latin restaurant industry is thriving, and our families are safe (though older!).
She was right: Our lives and businesses must go on.
Ed Avis, Publisher and Kathleen Furore, Editor.
