'Royal' treatment in store for Castle City visitors

Public Record, The, May 16, 1997

INDIO--Mario DelGuidice, who has in his lifetime opened 14 restaurants, would probably like to "kick back" and savor his latest creation, the $2 million, 24,000 square foot, three-story Castle City which is now open across from the County Administrative Center on Highway 111.

But the party and meeting business is absorbing his time as he ushers in what could be the most productive segment of his new investment.

With 45 employees now on the payroll, the huge coolers on and dry storage on the third floor, loaded with food, Mario is ready for the onslaught of meetings and mini-conventions headed his way.

He has booked in more than 50 parties Some are small birthday parties of only six (his minimum) ranging to 300, that will fill his third floor banquet room.

With the recent complexion of his 140-seat Castle Grill on April 13, you might say the customer menu has been completed--something for everyone.

In the interest of being able to handle the luncheon and dinner patrons in the Castle Grill, DelGuidice frankly admits to not advertising this more upscale dining place.

We wanted to be able to serve the people promptly with our best food and at a pace we could handle," Mario explained.

"We have seen the business slowly increase every day," the restaurateur says.

In the meantime, he has initiated a new and unique service to the dozens of offices which are in the area--"Waitresses on the run."

Waitresses, carrying lunches in insulated "hot bags," are already making the rounds, selling lunches as they go.

The Castle Grill was opened almost two months later than Mario had intended. But there were lots of loose ends to put together, such as finding a massive, round table for a private dining room. There are still a few things to do such replacing the chairs with ones that match the tables.

Mario, the grandfather of nine grandchildren, was working the counter, serving patrons of the Jungle Jim and bumper room, when The Public Record arrived to interview him.

A small birthday party was in progress in the room and little tikes were being thoroughly entertained by the life-sized animated characters that were playing instruments and singing on stage.

Mario took me on a tour of the restaurant, starting with the Castle Grill on the first floor, the Lounge on the second floor and the banquet room on the third floor.

This reporter was taken on a tour of the main kitchen, on the third floor, where the basic meals are prepared, and then sent to the foot preparation kitchens on the second and first floors.

Son Peter was spied working in the main kitchen; he has changed from a carpenter's to a kitchen apron. Peter had worked closely with Stoker & Sons of Yucca Valley, supervising the construction of the unique Castle City, which required five months and 10 days to complete.

There were no dining patrons in the Castle Grill since it is open for lunch only from 11 am. until 3 p.m. and for dinner form 4:30 p.m. until 10 p.m.

One item that caught my eye was the huge salad buffet counter which comes with all entrees or can be bought separately for $8.95.

The Castle City birthday package for the Jungle Jim Room and the Castle City Family Fun Center, with its several other attractions, such as the bumper car room, is also $8.95.

With parking for 125 cars on the premises and 25 at the adjoining Union 76 Gas Station, DelGuidice is ready for the onslaught of the larger groups.

Tour buses with 150 people aboard were slated to come to Castle City on May 10; on May 31 a wedding party of 175 was to take over the banquet room.

On June 21 from 150 to 200 retirees from the Desert Sands Unified School District are to gather at Castle City; in August 2,200 are to assemble at Castle City to celebrate "15 Quince" and on September 21 a wedding party of 300 is scheduled.

On June 7 a party booked by a lieutenant commander in the sheriff's department is to bring in from 175 to 200 for a retirement party.

Castle City features unique architecture, being built like an ancient medival castle, featuring parapets and a heavy impregnale look, enforced by the use of 50,000 heavy, gray cast blocks.

The City Council believed that the downtown area of Indio needed a unique building, such as the one Mario proposed; they knew he served good food since his Mario's Restaurant a few blocks away on Highway 111, is a popular stop for city and county executives and employees. It was no surprise that the city okayed a style of architecture alien to anything else on Highway 111.