-= NMSU PANORAMA - Summer 2006 =- Aggie Pride: Chope's Family is connected to New Mexico State University

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Chope's family is connected to New Mexico State University

By Julie M. Hughes '95

Lupe Benavides with the help of her family continues to run Chope's Restaurant in La Mesa, N.M. Photo by Darren Phillips

For many years New Mexico State University students have frequented Chope’s Bar and Restaurant in La Mesa, N.M., and many alumni have fond memories of enjoying authentic Mexican food with their classmates, but few probably realize that Jose “Chope” Benavides was a staunch supporter of education and that all of his daughters attended NMSU.

“Even though my grandfather only went through the 10th grade, he was a smart man and he expected his daughters to get an education. He knew the value of a good education,” says Sylvia Bustillos ’90, Chope’s granddaughter.

Even though Chope passed away in 1990 just before Bustillos would graduate from NMSU, she says she knows he “would have been so proud” that all of his grandchildren have graduated from NMSU.

Chope’s daughters Adelaida, Amelia ’62 ’76, Cecilia ’68, and Margarita ’71 all attended NMSU, but continued to help in the family restaurant. Except for Adelaida, who passed away last year, the women still help their mother Lupe Benavides operate the restaurant in addition to their careers as teachers.

“I think we have all worked at the restaurant in some form or another,” Bustillos says.

The family-run business is now in its sixth generation of operation. It eventually was named after “Chope,” a nickname given to him by his father. Chope was born and raised in the same 150-year-old building that is now the restaurant. Lupe Benavides still calls it home and keeps the business going.

Chope’s grandchildren, standing from left, Marisa, DJ, Jennifer, Michael, Melissa and, sitting from left, Cynthia, Sylvia, and Adrienne. Courtesy Photo

According to the restaurant’s history printed on the menus, “Chope’s mother, Longina Benavides, started the business around 1915 by selling enchiladas to the farmers of La Mesa. She would hang a kerosene lantern outside the front door when enchiladas were available. Chope and his wife inherited the home and Lupe continued the tradition of selling food to the farmers. Word of the excellent food quickly spread.”

Bustillos says she is not sure what the future holds for the restaurant, but she says she knows that it holds “nostalgia for many Aggies.”

“Former NMSU students come back with their families just to eat at the restaurant,” Bustillos says.

Benavides Family NMSU Graduates

Amelia Benavides Rivas 1962 Business, 1976 Elementary Education
Cecilia Benavides Yanez 1968 Elementary Education
Margarita Benavides Martinez 1971 Elementary Education
Sylvia Rivas Bustillos 1990 English Education
Melissa Rivas Rodriguez 1992 Electrical Engineering
Cynthia Rivas Settles 1997 Bio-Chemistry
Adrienne Yanez Sanchez 1992 Business, 1998 International Business
Marisa Yanez Lucero 1996 Elementary Special Education
David “DJ” Martinez 2000 International Business and Finance
Jennifer Margaret Martinez 2001 Family and Consumer Sciences
Michael Frank Martinez 2005 Animal Science

The Benavides family Aggie connection is extended when you include spouses. They are:

David Bartlett Martinez 1972 Management
Longino Bustillos 1987 Agricultural Education, 1989 Agricultural Economics
Christopher Rodriguez 1992 Civil Engineering
Jeremy Settles 1998 Agricultural Economics
Christopher Sanchez 1998 Business, 2002 Business
Ralph Lucero 2000 Business

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