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Above: Nana Jesus Conde (Mother to Rosa Maria Conde Amabisca) |
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The Amabisca Family History—A Brief Synopsis
Long before Arizona became a state, the Amabisca family had a strong presence in Agua Caliente, located between what is now Gila Bend and Yuma. José Elijio Amabisca and Josefa Acosta Amabisca were already living in the area before the American Civil War in the 1860s. Together with his half-brothers Ines and Roman, José Elijio helped to establish law and order in Agua Caliente but still frequently journeyed south to help fight against Emperor Maximilian supporters during the French Imperialist occupation of Mexico.
José Elijio and Josefa Acosta had eleven children during this time, and all their sons became cattlemen in the Agua Caliente area. Because of the scarcity of money-making opportunities, however, most of their children moved to California. But José Elijio Jr. chose to remain where he was born to continue to raise cattle and look after his parents.
Meanwhile, the Conde family traveled north from Sonora in order to flee the Yaqui uprisings. With all of their belongings in tow, the Condes arrived in Agua Caliente on horse back in the very early 1900s. A young, dashing José Elijio Jr. offered to help the youngest daughter, the beautiful Rosa Maria Conde, on to her horse, and when he caught a glimpse of her ankle which, in those days, was considered quite provocative, they immediately fell in love.
José Elijio Jr. married Rosa Maria Conde on May 12, 1912, the year that Arizona became a state. As the years wore on and their family grew, they felt that the tiny one-room school in Agua Caliente would not provide sufficient educational opportunities for their sons, so they decided at Rosa Maria’s insistence to move to Buckeye so that all of their children could progress in their education and become leaders in the community. Meanwhile, their eldest daughter Sarah remained in Agua Caliente working at the Agua Caliente Hotel to help support the family.
José Elijio Jr. and Rosa Maria Conde had thirteen children, seven of whom survived. And all were integral to the growth of the western frontier and the town of Buckeye itself.
The Amabisca Legacy—La Placita Café
In the late 1930s, José Elijio’s grandson Manuel Amabisca met Nellie Valdez at a Hellzapoppin’ dance in Buckeye, and since both were considered excellent dancers, the chemistry was undeniable and they fell in love. They were married in 1940, shortly before Manuel and his brothers John, Gil, Earnest, and Bill left to fight with the Allied forces during World War II. While Manuel was deployed on the European front, Nellie worked as a “Rosie the Riveter” in the airplane factory in Goodyear to help in the war effort. After the war, Manuel and Nellie settled back into domestic life in Buckeye and raised their five children: Irene, Pauline, Jose Elijio, Johnny, and Anna.
Soon after Manuel’s youngest brother Edward returned from his service in the Korean War, Manuel and Nellie decided to open a restaurant in Buckeye. La Placita Café opened its doors in the old Majors Pharmacy building on Monroe on May 17th, 1962. To help with the effort, Rosa Maria Conde and her daughter Sarah would rise at dawn to make the paper-thin flour tortillas that were the restaurant’s trademark. A few years later, the Café relocated to its current location across the street.
La Placita Café is now under the ownership of Manuel and Nellie’s eldest son Joe and his wife Barbara. Like his father and uncles, Joe served in the Armed Forces as a Green Beret during the Vietnam War. Together, Joe and Barbara have maintained many of the original La Placita Café traditions and recipes while expanding the business to grow with the times.
La Placita Café continues to be an institution in the town of Buckeye, often serving as the setting for many important events for the town and its residents such as festivals, weddings, class reunions, and anniversaries. It has stood the test of time and become a critical piece of Buckeye’s history.
And much like La Placita Café, the many descendents of José Elijio and Josefa Acosta have thrived in the Buckeye Valley and continue to contribute to the history of Arizona through their commitment to service. |
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History of La Placita Cafe |
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Above: Manuel & Nellie Amabisca in the kitchen 1962 Below: Joe & B.J. Amabisca in the kitchen 2008 |
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Above: Original La Placita Building in 1962 Below: La Placita in 2008 |
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Jose Elijio Jr. & Rosa Maria Conde Amabisca and Family 1955 Back row from left to right Eddie, Earnest, Manuel, Sara, Gil, John, & Bill Amabisca |
