Julio's

All that remains of Julio’s Mexican Restaurant is the tall sign at the corner of University Avenue and 45th Street.

Julio Arreola and his brother Olimpio ran the restaurant for 35 years before they lost their lease and closed the business in July of 2006. In the weeks before closing, Julio told customers that they had originally owned the property but had sold it years ago and leased it back. He said the new owners had resold it and that a pawnshop would replace the restaurant.

The pawnshop used the restaurant building and operated for about a year before having a clearance sale in 2008. Even while the pawnshop operated, the sign remained.

The building stood empty for several months and was gradually dismantled. The walls were knocked down during the first two weeks of April 2009.

A demolition worker at the site said he had no idea what would be built there next.

Julio died of kidney failure at age 80 in November 2007.