Louie Durán, founder of popular Mexican restaurant Javier’s 47 years ago, dies at age 88

Louis Durán, whose keen eye for business began when he sold cigarettes and other items to fellow soldiers for extra money while serving in the Korean War, died Monday at the age of 88.

Louie – as he was known to friends – started the popular Javier’s Mexican Restaurant & Cantina in southeast Fresno 47 years ago at the encouragement of his brother Al, who owned Los Charros restaurant.

In a 2013 interview, Durán attributed the success of the restaurant to the recipes he used from his mother, Carmen.

“She was a great cook, so I had the basics,” said Durán, who returned to work as a mechanic and after leaving the military. “I consider all of our food special.”

A dispute with how billing was done led him to open his own mechanic shop. Durán then opened his own car repair shop but soon discovered his partner was not pulling his weight.

That is when Durán, a 1953 graduate of Roosevelt High School, decided to go into the restaurant business. The first site was on Ventura and Clovis. He later relocated to Kings Canyon and Clovis.

The restaurant – which is named after his third child – always closes on Sundays so that workers can go to church and spend time with family.

Durán was a major benefactor to numerous causes, largely Arte Américas and Roosevelt High students. He graduated in 1953 from Roosevelt, where he played football as a 173-pound left guard.

He also played that position at Fresno City College.

“Louis has provided strong financial support to youth programs and sports teams in southeast Fresno,” the Southeast Fresno Community Economic Development Association said in 2013 when it honored him with the Trailblazer for Prosperity Award.

“He has been generous with farmworker organizations when asked to help; and has done his part in opening trails for himself, his family and for other members of our community.

Nancy Márquez, a former executive director of Arte Américas, was rarely surprised when Durán, and his wife Lupe, would donate to the Latino cultural arts center.

“They were part of our close knit family of supporters,” said Márquez. “Over the years they gave us many contributions. They actually gave us a lot of money, but he wanted to do it anonymously.”

Lupe Durán volunteered at the center’s La Tiendita. That’s how Dolly Arredondo got to meet the couple.

“They donated the food for our first Mother’s Day Brunch,” said Arredondo, who added he would also donate food to schools and other organizations.

“He couldn’t say ‘no,’” said Arredondo.

His daughter, Rachel, said her father “believed in giving.”

“He did well in business, and he never really frowned on giving and donating for the good of children,” she said.

In a 2018 interview with Márquez, recalled working in the fields around Firebaugh during the summer. His father, Aurelio, was a migrant farmworker. Durán was born in Firebaugh. Duran helped his father with the social club Sociedad Morelos, which was founded in 1929.

Durán also chaired the Torreón Sister City committee, and helped provide used but much-needed buses and fire engines to the city in the Mexican state of Coahuila.

Durán, an avid golfer, owned and operated Fresno West Golf Course between Fresno and Kerman for several years before selling it. The property is now farmland.

He bought a bar on Jensen and Chestnut and operated it for five years before selling it to buy the golf course.

Other than golf, he enjoyed cultivating a home garden where he would grow tomatoes, chilies and squash.

“He enjoyed being outside and working outdoors,” said Rachel. “He was always doing something outside.”

Durán was the second oldest of four children. He is survived by his wife, Lupe; children Ron, Rachel and Javier; and, three grandchildren.

Services are pending.

Esta historia fue publicada originalmente el 10 de febrero de 2022, 8:17 p. m. with the headline "Louie Durán, founder of popular Mexican restaurant Javier’s 47 years ago, dies at age 88."