Owner's death leaves question mark for Jovita's future

Wednesday's death of Jovita's owner Amado Pardo added more doubt to whether the once-popular South Austin restaurant will ever open again.

The eatery on South First Street has been closed since June when authorities, led by FBI agents, conducted a raid at the location, rounding up Pardo, his wife and several associates on drug trafficking and other charges.

Pardo endured "a tattered early life as a teenager and early 20s," said his lawyer Ben Florey," but the last 20 years, he has not had any problems with the law.  He's been a solid member of the south Austin community."

Now Jovita's future is up in the air. Florey says the his family has future plans to bring back the business, but there are still some obstacles in the way.

"The family would like the business to continue," said Florey. "The government has provided certain documents, served them with documents that keeps them from using the business for different purposes right now so it's really kind of tied up right now until this is resolved."

El Dia de Los Muertos tattoos is a colorful business just down the block from Jovita's. Owner Christoper Mares says it be good to see Jovita's open again.

"Oh, it be great you know it be great -- more people in the neighborhood watching shows," said Mares, "And you know there would be more people exposed to my business."

But other business owners we spoke to had mixed feelings. Some said they would not mind if Jovita's never reopens.

Pardo's attorney says he'll be filing a motion to get the case dismissed and that will hopefully free up the family to open Jovita's again for business.