‘Pillar’ in Kansas City’s Mexican restaurant community dies. ‘He loved people’
Devoted longtime fans of both Rudy’s Tenampa Taqueria and Manny’s Mexican Restaurant may remember Bob Garcia.
Between his job at the U.S. Postal Service, Bob helped his brother, the owner of Rudy’s, and his cousin, the owner of Manny’s. Even after he retired from the USPS, he managed Rudy’s for several years.
“All our life he had two jobs,” said his son, BJ Garcia, who’s now a part-owner at Rudy’s.
Bob died this month, leaving behind decades of memories between both of his family’s restaurants. His devotion to juggling time in the food industry between his other job speaks both to his work ethic and care for others, his family said.
“He loved people,” said his daughter, Melinda Garcia. “Never met a stranger.”
Manny’s, 207 Southwest Blvd., has been a fixture in the Kansas City area’s Mexican food scene since 1980.
Bob helped his cousin and best friend, Manny Lopez, start the business. For years, he worked the floor at the restaurant, helping customers feel welcomed.
“Having someone in your life that gives you unconditional love is a rare thing, but Bob gave that love to anyone who crossed his path,” said David Lopez, director of operations and Manny’s son.
After Manny passed in 2016, Bob became a source of comfort for David, meeting with him regularly.
“He’s a pillar. He never wanted the accolades,” David said. “The world’s just a little bit darker now that he’s gone.”
Bob also helped his brother open Rudy’s back in 1993. Today, the taqueria has two locations: 1611 Westport Road and 8710 Lackman Road in Lenexa.
Both restaurants posted tributes for Bob, gathering hundreds of likes and memories from the community.
“Rudy and Bob shared a brotherly bond unlike anything you’ve ever known,” Rudy’s wrote on Facebook. “Never a dull moment when these brothers got together.”
Bob was 84 when he passed Jan. 4.
His family remembers him as a man who was strong in his Catholic faith and proud of his Mexican heritage.
“If he saw people within the restaurants that were Mexican people who had just come to the country, he always wanted to find a way to give them a hand,” BJ said.
During his interview with The Star, BJ suddenly remembered that his father also picked up shifts at Westside Bar & Grill on Southwest Boulevard — his in-laws’ restaurant — and Los Barreras in Gladstone, his brother-in-law’s restaurant.
Clearly, a good meal was important to him and his family.
“Food was always at the core of our family,” BJ said. “Sunday dinners, birthday dinners, meals, all that stuff was always part of what we did.”
This story was originally published January 16, 2026 at 8:17 AM.