“If you could taste legacy, it would taste like our pork chile.”

That’s the conclusion of Alejandra Gonzales in response to the many who have commented on the coming closure of Pepe’s Mexican Restaurant at the corner of Third and Bent streets in Powell.

“What will I do without the pork chile? I’d die for that recipe. How do you expect me to live without it?”

“Truly, these compliments make the decision to close Pepe’s so bittersweet,” said Alejandra, a third generation member of the family-owned, family-run restaurant for 29 years in Powell.

The last day of serving from Pepe’s menu will be Friday, June 28. The restaurant will offer a free lunch to patrons as a farewell gesture on Saturday, June 29 before closing its doors a final time.

Pepe’s initially was launched at 333 E. Second St. in the former Coffee Cup Cafe before the move to Bent Street 23 years ago.

The idea to open Pepe’s in the first place began in an innocent grocery store conversation.

Alejandra recalled the conversation in which Santos Gomez asked her grandfather, Gavino Leyva, if he was interested in opening a Mexican restaurant together. He was, and Pepe’s began.

Gavino, formerly of Worland, brought his son, Mark Leyva, into the original business, and later his three daughters, Eva Gonzales, Priscilla Stringari and Sara Chapa. It was truly a family affair.

Gomez had owned a restaurant previously, and so it was assumed the transition to restauranteering would be smooth. But early on, Gomez left to pursue other interests, and the Leyva family was thrust into learning on the run.

The family was up to it. Gavino Leyva and his late wife, Idolina, have had four children, five grandchildren and one great-grandchild working in the restaurant in the past 29 years, and the whole family helped out in one way or another. His son would even meet his future wife at Pepe’s. She started as a dishwasher and now helps her husband cook.

“Working with your family definitely has its pros and cons,” Alejandra said with a smile.  “There were, of course,  moments of sibling squabbles, but there were also memorable moments of laughter and pranks. Our family will never forget when the younger brother of the siblings hard-boiled the eggs on April Fool’s Day, completely baffling his sister during the breakfast shift.”

Why close now? Gavino summed it up: “The kids say they’re done.”

The family-owned building is listed for sale.