Established in 1976, Ernestine Zegar built Acapulco from a small 40-seat restaurant in St. Ann into one of the first Mexican restaurant success stories in the St. Louis area. An immigrant from Oaxaca, Mexico, she came to St. Louis in search of the American dream, bringing with her authentic Mexican recipes and a deep commitment to her community. While raising five children as a single mother, Ernestine ran the business by day and attended school at night to earn her legal citizenship.
Over the decades, she earned recognition as a business leader and pioneer in the Hispanic community, helping other Mexican restaurants and local families along the way. Acapulco eventually expanded to five additional locations, and since 1992, the family has continued serving traditional dishes and margaritas from its home at 10114 St. Charles Rock Road.
