The Story Behind Dell's Restaurant, 49 Years and Counting

At the recent Colton City Council meeting, Mayor Richard De La Rosa and Council Member Dr. Luis S Gonzalez (Dr. G) presented Dell’s with a “business focus” recognition award for 49 years of business in the city of Colton. Located at 531 S. La Cadena Ave, on the corner of La Cadena and O Street, this establishment is “truly a landmark in our city” says Council Member Dr. G, and “totally a family affair.” Dell’s originally opened as Dell’s Drive-In in July 1967 under the ownership of the late Louis and Rachel Romo, Louie’s parents. Louie Romo, who currently owns the restaurant with his wife Patsy, dedicated this presentation to their parents, the original owners of Dell’s Drive-In. Patsy, born in New Mexico, raised in Riverside, married into the family in 1967, and moved to Colton with her husband Louie, in 1968. Since then, they have been residing in Colton. From the time the business opened, Patsy worked for her in-laws. She recalls when the business was a walk-up food restaurant selling hamburgers, tacos, or tostadas, 10 for $1. Back then employees were paid $0.25 per hour. Patsy shared that her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren have all worked there, as it is completely a family affair. In 1989, Louis and Rachel Romo, decided to sell the business, and ended up leasing the business to a young couple from Korea who operated the business less than a year, unfortunately, with little success. In 1990, Louis and Rachel Romo, decided to re-open, and continue the family tradition of the now famous “Dell's Drive-In”. At that time, Patsy working at Security Pacific Bank for a total of two years until the bank merged with Bank of America in Colton. After 11 years, she transferred to the Bank of America in Grand Terrace where she worked another 4 years until she retired in 2007. Louie, during this long span of time, worked at Riverside Cement Company in Oro Grande, near Victorville. His job included blowing up rock formations and making cement. He retired after 38 years in 2005. In December 2009, Louie and Patsy, bought the business from the Romo Estate, and are the proud owners of this long-standing restaurant, now called “Dell’s.” Their goal, as Patsy emphasized, was “to continue the family idea which was started years ago by our parents.” When Louie and Patsy first opened, Louie’s sisters, Cynthia and Mona, came to help. Cynthia worked one year, and Mona worked five years. Louie and Patsy Romo have four children, Louie, Michelle, Terri, and Renee, who all, at one time or another, have worked at the restaurant. Currently, Dell’s employs five people, most of them, of course, are family. They are grandkids Joanna, Travis, Thomas, and Trisha. One other employee Joanne, is a long-time friend of the family. Patsy and her husband, Louie, now have a routine as they work together to keep the business going in top shape. Louie picks up supplies, and takes care of maintenance while Patsy handles the cooking, and runs the business. Later this year, they’ll be celebrating 7 years of business ownership together, right there on the corner of O Street and La Cadena. Often people ask about the name, Dell’s. Before the business was bought by Louis and Rachel Romo, the business and property belonged to Mr. Dell Miller, the owner of Miller’s Honey, who actually owned the entire corner. At that time, It was just a hamburger stand, with shakes and malts, and Rachel, Louie’s mother, actually worked for Mr. Dell Miller. So, when the time came that Dell Miller wanted to sell the business and property or lease it, with the option to buy, knowing Rachel was a good worker, loved her job, and wanted to someday own a business of her own, he offered to sell it to her, and that was the beginning of the family's story.