‘Part of the fabric of Folsom’: Retired owner of Hacienda Del Rio honored for 32 years of service
The city of Folsom honored Chris Corda at its council meeting Tuesday night.
Corda, 69, owned and operated the Mexican restaurant Hacienda Del Rio on Sutter Street in the historic district for over 32 years, according to a formal resolution that city representatives signed at the meeting.
On Dec. 31, 2022, Hacienda Del Rio closed but expects to open at a later, undisclosed date under the ownership of Michael Sanson. Sanson owns Plank Craft Kitchen and Bar on Sutter Street and previously owned Rock-N-Fire Pizza on Riley Street until it closed in October 2022 due to economic hardships and Trademark Pizza Co. in Roseville that closed in the summer of 2021.
Corda said in a Facebook post that he believes there will be “a short dark period so Michael and his team can put his vision in place.”
He realized his interest in the restaurant industry during a career planning assignment in high school, according to the city resolution, and after community college decided to major in hospitality management at Cal Poly Pomona.
During his time in Folsom, the city said he has served as president of the Sacramento Chapter of the California Restaurant Association and as treasurer and president of the Sutter Street Merchants Association.
Reflecting on over 30 years
Corda said the amount of time he spent in the restaurant business took a lot of dedication and sacrifices, namely family time and holidays.
“It passed by quickly,” he said. “It doesn’t seem like 32 years, I just felt it was time to make a change.”
Judy Collinsworth, executive director of the historic district, worked with Corda in the merchants association and said she hopes he will miss Historic Folsom and want to come back to mentor new business owners.
Upon hearing this, Corda told The Sacramento Bee that anything is a possibility, and that he would like to be active in what goes on in Folsom. Right now, “it’s only been six weeks of trying to get a grasp of not having to work every day.”
“I do feel blessed to have been able to do what I love to do which is run restaurants in this beautiful community with outstanding progress in the historical district over the 32 years,” Corda said at the city council meeting. “It is the jewel of Folsom.”
Mayor Rosario Rodriguez said in the resolution that she thanked Corda for being “part of the fabric of Folsom” and that he now looks forward to spending time with his partner, Sherri, his children and grandchildren.
Rodriguez, who owns Sutter Street Taqueria in Historic Folsom, said she met Corda at an annual merchant meeting in late 2014 after signing the lease to build her restaurant.
“He offered to help with anything I may need as I was new to the restaurant industry,” Rodriguez said via email. “I found him to be kind and generous ... as I would have been the (third) Mexican restaurant in the district.”