Barbosa’s is Open for Business: Serving Customers and Donating Food During the Coronavirus Pandemic

By Shannon Bond

You’re sitting at home in St. Joseph, Mo., practicing responsible social distancing, when all of a sudden, you get a craving for amazing Mexican food. What do you do during the worldwide coronavirus pandemic? You call Barbosa’s Mexican Restaurant, of course. They are still working hard to provide curbside pickup and if you take a pic from the curb or home, send it their way and they will give you a shout out on their Facebook page www.facebook.com/barbosascastillo.

“Sales are down but we’re staying open until 7 p.m. so employees can keep their jobs and we can keep serving great food,” Carly Moss, one of Barbosa’s managers, said. “The community has been great. Our biggest challenge has been the volume of calls between six and seven. Luckily, everyone has been very patient as we rush to fill orders.”

The restaurant isn’t just providing great food-to-go, they have also donated food to first responders, firefighters, truck drivers, and Mosaic staff and nurses. And the restaurant staff is trying to support other local businesses as well.

 

Barbosa’s BELIEVES in U ❤️

In the past week we have shown our love for essential workers. We have donated some of their…

Posted by Barbosa’s Mexican Restaurants on Saturday, March 28, 2020

“Everybody is in this together, so all of us are trying to buy from local restaurants and other places, too,” Moss said.

Moss is a member of the Barbosa family and happily shares restaurant lore. The Barbosa family has been a staple in the St. Joseph community for many years. Mr. and Mrs. E.C. Barbosa established the restaurant in 1960, in their own home. Moss explains that long-time patrons fondly recall waiting on the couch with the children until their homemade tamales were finished. In 1974 the Barbosas purchased the former J.B. Moss House and after remodeling, opened it for business in downtown St. Joseph.

In the 1980s they expanded again, adding an eastside location on Frederick Avenue. Sadly, they were forced to close the beautiful downtown location after extensive vandalism and theft in 2019. But you can still read about the historic house at www.barbosascastillo.com/about. and visit their thriving location on Frederick Avenue.

Call in your order and pick up your homemade flour chips, red pork chili, and tacos at 4804 Frederick Street, St. Joseph, Mo. 64506. And don’t forget to send them a pic!