Taco Sombrero celebrates 45 years of business

Gulfport, Miss. (WXXV)- Through these doors walks the greatest people on earth. That’s what the late founder Lynn Parkhill would say about his restaurant Taco Sombrero, who is celebrating 45 years on the coast.

“Today is 45 years, not just Cinco De Mayo but happy 45 years for Taco Sombrero. We’ve been in the community serving many people. Without our customers for 45 we still wouldn’t be here and our staff is wonderful but we did today for the customers and to remember and honor Lin.”

One customer calls the restaurant his second home. Steve Johnson says, “I’ve been coming here since I was a kid this is a staple. I grew up across the way, Northway Hills, and it’s a staple. this is the best. What Mr. Lynn and Ms. Vicki started is just, it’s our place from high school. We’d come here as little kids we’d ride our bikes here. I mean this is like second to none. People from out of town come all the way down just to eat at Taco Sombrero.”

Since 1980, Taco Sombrero has been giving back to its community, and is now help the youth through scholarships in honor of deceased co-founder Lynn Parker.

Parkhill says, “the owner, Lynn Parkhill, that was the face. He was the man you saw everyday behind the cash register every day when you come in and he kept people coming back. We’ve have started a scholarship in his name so we hope that his legacy not only through his customers continuing with Taco Sombrero but that we can continue to help the youth grow either in business or in culinary.”

Vicki Parkhill also tells us what Lynn’s favorite dish is and what he would recommend to a first-time visitor.

Vicki says, “his favorite dish if you want me to point it out is the Bueno dinner hun. That was his favorite dish here and he loved a taco. And if you came here for the very first time, that’s what he’d suggest and recommend to you. Let’s get a Bueno dinner I think you’ll like this.”