Did he ever come back to Brownsville, Montoya?
Don't think so.
Commenter: June 22, 2026 at 11:52 AM
(Ed.'s Note: Kris Kristofferson did come back to Brownsville, many times. He came back to look for his Nana Juanita, the Mexican woman from Brownsville – originally from Matamoros – who watched after him and his siblings. She was 13 and Kristofferson was six months old when she was first hired to work for the family. After he left and she retired, she would eat regularly at El Charrito Restaurant, and he gave them an autographed photo where he thanks them for taking care of her. The ownership has changed and the photo is no longer there. This article is from August, 2013.)
By Juan Montoya
I had a yen for a small bowl of menudo today and as I had just dropped off my son for his summer job, I saw a sign for an El Charrito Restaurant off Central Boulevard and Jefferson where the old Lopez Supermarket used to be.I sauntered in and sat while the two ladies waited on some diners. The place has a Mexican movie decor with black and white photos of the likes of Pancho Villa, Emiliano Zapata, Jorge Negrete, Pedro Infante, Maria Felix, male and female revolutionaries, even Vicente Fernandez astride a fine horse.
And then, there, just off to the side of the altar with the votary candles and aloe vera sprigs, I saw a photograph of a smiling man that looked somewhat out of place in the clutter.
I thought I recognized the grin and longish hair and I walked over to the southern wall. It was him. It was an autographed studio black and white photo of Kris Kristofferson, one of the few Brownsville residents who went off to the Big Lights and actually made it.
You know, the guy who wrote hits like "Me and Bobby McGee", "For the Good Times", "Sunday Morning Coming Down", and "Help Me Make It Through the Night."
What would his picture be doing on the wall of El Charrito Restaurant?
The message that Kristofferson had scribbled on the photo read:
"Thanks El Charrito, for taking care of my mom, Juanita, Peace, Kris."
The woman asked me why I wanted to take the picture and if I knew the man on it. I explained to her that he was a movie star composer and singer who had been born in Brownsville.
She, of course, didn't know who he was but said that his mother (Juanita) came to eat there often and that out of appreciation and gratitude to the waiters' help and the owner (one Walter Morton?), he had given them his autographed picture.
Like I said, the lighting was bad and I was off focus, but I would be willing to bet the small menudo I had that it has to be one of the few autographed photo by Kristofferson to people in Brownsville. Maybe – I thought then – next time I walk in I'll actually get to meet Juanita, his mom. Unfortunately, it turned out to be too late.
To read a story about this special relationship, click on link to Texas Border Business: https://texasborderbusiness.com/love-comes-heart-lasts-forever-kris-kristofferson/
5 comments:
Mr. Montoya, thank you for sharing this. It is endearing to know that Kristofferson genuinely cared for his "nanny" Juanita. May he rest in peace.🌹
And San Benito had Freddy Fender.
Why do we not mention or honor the Mexican?
And you're Mexican, Montoya!!!
Count me in as a fan. Beer songs but what the Hey.
We all live in a Yellow Submarine.
It's unfortunate the US has billions for military expenses yet, we ignore the need for hospitals in rural areas, decrease funding for innovation in universities, pay our teachers too little (increase their salaries we would increase the quality of who becomes teachers), provide no help for managing the elderly's needs, accept decaying infrastructure, decrease small business support, on and on all losses for quality of life and work. Wake up America there's a reason why we are failing our citizens!
In a fight, which one wins: Pit Bull or Hyena?
Post a Comment