Together, they moved back to Grass Valley in 1998, married and were blessed with a baby boy they named Diego. After working at Maria’s Mexican Restaurant for many years prior to her travels, June learned a lot about how a Latin-style restaurant is operated and began to act on her inspiration to start her own place with her mother, Diane, as her partner. They saw a great advantage in the fact that her Grandma June owned a building just off of Downtown Grass Valley free and clear, so at the end of 2002 Diego’s opened its doors for business.

“Diego’s” was an easy choice for a name since Diane and June’s vision was to combine the uniqueness of South America with Northern California flavors – just like June’s son and Diane’s grandson.

After many years of hard work, long days/nights and much personal sacrifice, they have grown Diego’s into one of the most celebrated restaurants in Grass Valley and the Sierra Foothills. In 2009, they expanded the restaurant dining area to include both a front patio and a dining/banquet room, nearly tripling the available space to accommodate guests.

Diego’s building has been in the Robison family since 1960 when it was Millscraft Television Repair owned by Diane’s father (and June’s grandpa) Bob Robison. Diane’s parents and older brother Danny lived in the house next door to the Diego’s building in the early years of Bob’s business. After he retired, it was converted into King Richard’s Pasties, a well known pastie (similar to our baked empanada) eatery that was open for several years after Bob’s retirement.