Queso sera, sera: Goodbye to Jaime's

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Eight decades of margaritas, Tex-Mex food and friendship are ending July 30 . Jaime's Spanish Village on the corner of Red River and 8th Street in Downtown Austin is closing.

Originally known as Spanish Village, Jaime Tames added his name after purchasing the restaurant 40 years ago. Tames was a bull fighter in Spain, and proudly displayed signs for his fights alongside photos of his customers on the restaurant walls. He trademarked his famous margarita with a sangria floater, known as the Margarita Jaime.

Current owner Charlie Thames took over restaurant operations in 2007, when his uncle Jaime passed away. He said the current land owner has different plans for the property and they could not come to an agreement on a lease extension.

Property owner Tom Bullard, who lives on the East Coast, could not be reached for comment.

Since the announcement that they would close in early July, hungry visitors have been filling the restaurant. The fact that the last month's profits would all go to the soon-to-be jobless employees added extra incentive.

"The easiest thing for me would have been to just turn off the lights and walk away," said Charlie Tames. "But I couldn't do it to my employees and I couldn't do it for... I mean, this place has been around forever and I just couldn't let it die."

Tames said a little piece of Jaime's will live on in the form of their famous sauces, which will be sold at Whole Foods and Central Market locations in Austin, Houston and Dallas.