Condolences to the family and friends of Frank and Lupe’s Restaurants owner Teddy Bernal, a third-generation restaurateur who lost his weeks-long battle with covid-19 this morning. He was 45.
‘‘Teddy was the most caring person you could meet and it was his life’s work and passion to run this restaurant that we all consider a second home,’’ his family posted on social media.
The New Mexican-Mexican restaurants get their name from Bernal’s parents, Frank and Lupe, who opened the original in Socorro, N.M., 45 years ago. His grandfather previously had a restaurant in Socorro.
Bernal and his brother, Eddie, brought their mother’s recipes to Old Town Scottsdale in 1995. In 2017, Bernal opened another location in Ahwatukee, which he oversaw while his brother tended to the Scottsdale one.
Both restaurants announced they will be closed today and Tuesday.
