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New restaurant opens in Oakhurst

—Sierra Star staff

(Updated: Thursday, January 07, 2010, 4:40 PM)

The former Castillo’s Mexican Restaurant has reopened as Casa Velasco, serving lunch and dinner.

The new owners are Efren and Yolanda Velasco.

Efren Velasco was head chef at Castillo’s. He was born and raised in Rancho Padilla, a remote family settlement south of Colima, Mexico.

Yolanda Velasco was born and raised in Sanger.

Efren, Yolanda and their daughters moved to the Mountain Area six years ago.

The Velascos also own and operate Casa Velasco next to the Pines Village at Bass Lake.

Casa Velasco is located on Golden Oak Loop behind the Talking Bear and Century 21 Ditton Realty. It has been refurbished and the kitchen and dining areas are now like new.

Assisting with the refurbishing project were contractors J.R. Airey, Airey Custom Homes, Joe Stern, water treatment, Northwestern Electric, Mikes TP Plumbing, Oakhurst Air and Mountain Aire.

The restaurant’s dining-room floors were stripped and coated with clear urethane by Chris Stewart of Surface Solutions.

The wall murals have been repaired, and the booths were removed, refinished and reupholstered.