After 5 years in West Ajijic, the beloved hub for food and music has a new outdoor home with more space for tables and music
Dinner music during the “break-in” period of Casa Domenech at LCS. Grand opening Sunday.
Patrick O’Heffernan Ajijic (JAL) Casa Domenech, Ajijic’s iconic hub for music, food and community for 5 years has moved from its original location on Calle Zaragoza in West Ajijic to the Lake Chapala Society. Ray Domenech, founder and owner, has been operating Angelina’s Café at LCS and negotiated a complete move to and renaming of the old café location on August 30, opening a new chapter in the Casa D story and in the Ajijic music scene.
“We were doing OK at the old location, but lost customers because we were all indoors and we were small – the tables were close together,” Ray Domenech told Laguna while the band took a break playing at the new location. “People were calling and apologizing for not coming because they were worried about Covid – there are new rules now, and we had to respect that, and now we have a larger space that is outdoors,” he said.
Domenech told Laguna that the move was his idea, although LCS had originally invited him to take over the Café for breakfast and lunch. Holding the 5th anniversary celebration for Casa D – as it is affectionately known in Ajijic – at LCS showed him that there was potential for more space and for larger events.
The move took some negotiation because Casa D’s is now open at LCS when everything else on campus is closed. But the Board was in favor of it and the membership liked the idea, so he went ahead.
“LCS did an online poll of their members asking if they wanted us to be open evenings and serve dinner, and the result was 75% to 80% in favor. Everyone at LCS was very nice and helpful,” he said.
When asked about possible complaints from the neighbors over music noise at night, he said that there might be some but he has the necessary license for music and that he will start early and shut music down early – possibly as early as 7pm – to avoid disturbing the neighbors.
Most important, Domenech intends to recreate the magic the original location was known for, with great bands, drop-in musicians jamming, guest artists, and relationships and friendships kindling over food and jazz.
“ It is a different challenge – recreating the kind of magic we had in the smaller original venue, but it is my intention to make it happen here, he said, “the musicians will be here – just like tonight when a great trumpet player showed up and joined the band.”
Casa Domenech LCS is in its break-in period now, open daily for dinner and featuring music every night. The Grand Opening will be this Saturday, September 4, from 4:30 to 8 pm. The Aloha Rock band will be playing but Ray Domenech confided to Laguna that he expects many of Casa D’s musical friends to drop by and jam. Reservations can be made at facebook.com/domenechmusic/ and are recommended.
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