Ariel PerezGreen Bay Press-Gazette
GREEN BAY — On July 12, a father and his daughter died in a tragic incident at Canyonlands National Park, in Utah.
Albino Herrera Espinoza, 52, and his daughter, Beatriz Herrera, 23, set out Friday to hike what is known as the most challenging trail in the Island of the Sky, inside the southeast district of the park. The duo sent a 911 text reporting that they were lost and out of water, according to the San Juan County (Utah) Sheriff's Office. Rescuers found them that evening, but it was too late.
Herrera Espinoza was a successful restaurateur, together with his wife María Carmen Herrera. They managed both El Sarape restaurants, 2030 E. Mason St., on the east side of Green Bay, and 2615 S Oneida St., in Ashwaubenon.
Herrera Espinoza was a well-known entrepreneur who built a successful business over 24 years
Herrera Espinoza purchased El Jalisco restaurant, 2030 E. Mason St., from his uncle and renamed it El Sarape in June 2000. The eatery started small, with a bookstore next to it, María Carmen Herrera said in an interview with the Green Bay Press-Gazette last year. When the bookstore closed in 2003, they took over that space and expanded. They opened the second location in Ashwaubenon in 2009.
The restaurant on East Mason is moving to a new building, which is part of recent developments in Bellevue, along Monroe Road, Town Hall Road and Costco Way. Construction for the new location at 2245 Costco Way is already underway by Midwest Expansion Companies. Jeff Noeldner, owner of the company, said he has been a close friend of the family for the last 10 years.
Noeldner said he met the couple back in 2009 when he became their landlord.
"I helped them with the process of buying their first business property," he said. "We became friends during that time."
Noeldner said Herrera Espinoza, a man of few words, was intelligent and very family-oriented.
"He was always with Carmen, they worked hand-in-hand," he said. "He was always either with his wife or his children, never saw him by himself."
It was his dream to own the second location currently being built in Bellevue, which is expected to open in late fall, Noeldner said.
"It's obviously very hard, when you see something this tragic happen," he said. "But we are going to make that happen."
Jorge Noriega, who owns Noriega Construction LLC, said Herrera Espinoza was a client. He met Herrera Espinoza in 2009 while dining at El Sarape.
"This is a big loss to the Spanish-speaking community," Noriega said. "He was a hardworking person, dedicated to his business to represent the American dream. He did everything right."
Noriega said they started working together more often after 2022. He said Herrera Espinoza was polite, respectful and a good human being.
"Just last week I called him and I was waiting for him to call me back," Noriega said. "My condolences to the family, this is just a big impact, not just personally, to the community."
Business owners and Hispanic media join in with supportive messages for the family
Along with hundreds of messages on social media, restaurant owners and media personalities expressed their condolences this week. La Más Grande radio station published a Facebook post in English and Spanish.
"With profound sorrow, we express our condolences for the tragic loss of Mr. Albino and his daughter Bety, beloved owners of El Sarape Mexican Restaurant. We extend our support to Mrs. Carmen, her son Chemita, Dalia, Dulce, family, friends, and all the employees of El Sarape. The Herrera Family has been an example of dedication and respect in our community. May they find comfort in our affection and in the lasting legacy of Albino and Bety. With respect, from La Más Grande radio station," the post read.
Others like Juan Sanchez, owner of Hot Sake Sushi and his brother, Joel Sanchez, shared their own messages.
"We are so shocked by this tragedy, the Hispanic community in general," Sanchez wrote in Spanish. "We had the fortune of meeting him, working for him, a person of great example."
Hundreds of other people joined in with messages of solidarity and asked to keep the Herrera family in their prayers.
"Keep the family Herrera in your prayers," wrote Karen Y. Cendejas, owner of La Carreta restaurant.
Ariel Perez is a business reporter for the Green Bay Press-Gazette. You can reach himatAPerez1@gannett.comor view hisTwitter profile at@Ariel_Perez85.
