Vintage 1970s Pancho’s Mexican Buffet Matchbook Pamex Foods Texas Southwest For Sale

The cover features the early Pancho’s sombrero-wearing mascot, red script logo, “Mexican Buffets,” and the corporate identification “© Pamex Foods, Inc.,” along with “Locations Throughout the Southwest.”

Pancho’s was founded in El Paso, Texas, in 1958 by Jesse Arramoffere Jr., who developed the inexpensive buffet concept around Mexican dishes he had learned from his mother and his experience preparing food in quantity while serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II. The concept proved successful and developed into a regional chain.

Pancho’s had reached the Fort Worth area by the mid-1960s. A Fort Worth Star-Telegram archive photograph documents a Pancho’s formal opening in February 1966, with founder Jesse Arramoffere identified as a co-owner. Another Star-Telegram record documents a North Richland Hills Pancho’s in 1968.

By 1978, Pancho’s was firmly established throughout the Dallas area as well. The Greater Dallas Yellow Pages listed locations in Richardson, Farmers Branch, North Central Dallas, Pleasant Grove and Oak Cliff, advertising the chain’s “all you can eat at family prices” concept.

The “Pamex Foods, Inc.” corporate name printed on this matchbook is particularly useful for dating. Pamex Foods was the corporate predecessor of Pancho’s Mexican Buffet, Inc.; the company changed its corporate name from Pamex Foods to Pancho’s Mexican Buffet, Inc. in 1982.

That establishes this matchbook as pre-1982. Based on the Pamex Foods identification, “Locations Throughout the Southwest” wording, early mascot artwork and overall graphic style, I would date this example approximately c. 1970–1981, most likely 1970s.

Original oversized feature matchbook with attractive red, brown and black graphics on a tan/gold background. Excellent early Pancho’s mascot artwork. Please see photographs for exact condition and completeness.