Zona Moore, the owner of Zona’s Tamales in Denver’s Five Points neighborhood, is retiring after about 40 years of business.
“I had talked about it before,” Moore said. “I’ve been going a long time so I feel good about it. I deserve some rest.”
Moore’s family is hosting a retirement and birthday party for Moore, who will turn 85, on Sunday at Cervantes at 2637 Welton St.
The party will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Finger food will be available, and a DJ will provide entertainment. The public is invited.
“It’s going to be real exciting for me,” Moore said.
Zona’s Tamales has operated at 713 E. 26th Ave. for about 40 years, with many of Moore’s 14 children and 60 grandchildren occasionally working there.
Zona Moore’s restaurant will officially close next week, either Tuesday or Wednesday, said daughter Rita Ward.
Monday the restaurant will hold a “Back in the Day” sale, selling items at the lower price they sold for decades ago, Ward said.
“I will miss these people because I’ve been with them for so long, but I’ll probably miss them a while, and it will wear off,” Moore said. “I just got to rest.”
Moore was arrested earlier in July, accused of buying and selling stolen cigarettes and buying stolen televisions from an undercover officer.
A week after her arrest, 200 people rallied in support of her. Speakers accused white neighbors of trying to push the business out and called the police investigation that resulted in her arrest “a dirty sting.”
Moore pleaded guilty Sept. 28 to one misdemeanor charge of theft by receiving, and is awaiting sentencing later this month. She could face up to 12 months in county jail.
