In 1962, Miguell and Iness Avitia and their 6 children left their small village of San Jose de La Boca in Durango, Mexico, to settle in Bishop, California. Miguel worked at the sawmill on weekdays and the dairy on weekends. Iness worked in the laundry, sewing and ironing. At first, Iness would help her friends by cooking for their dinner parties. The word spread and her services were in demand. In 1974, with the financial help of many relatives and friends, the first El Charro was opened in Bishop. While Iness and her sons, Miguel Jr., Avel, and Tony, cooked in the kitchen, Miguel Sr. and his daughters, Rosa and Francie, took care of the dining room.
                                         

In 1977, they opened the second El Charro in Carson City, Nevada, which was owned and operated by Avel and Michelle and managed by Tony. The third El Charro opened in Ridgecrest, California, in 1980 and was voted "Best Mexican Restaurant" five times by the San Francisco Chronicle, Los Angeles Times, and The Sacramento Bee. Also, the National Hispanic Magazine chose El Charro Avitia as one of the nation's 50 best Mexican or Hispanic restaurants. The Carson City El Charro Avitia was chosen as one of the top 100 restaurants in the United States by The National Restaurant Hospitality Magazine and was voted "Best of the Best" for local Mexican food and fun. Iness' recipes, the family, loyalty, and hard work of all those involved are only part of our growth. You are what make it possible and so we thank you very much.