In the heart of downtown Riverside, Martin Sanchez has built a shrine out of trash. At his restaurant, Tio’s Tacos, Sanchez takes recycling to great creative heights–both literal and figurative. From refuse, he created pyramids, whimsical fountains, and a series of giant wire figures, filled with shells, shoes, toys and other cast offs. Plus he makes a mean seafood cocktail. The city hasn’t always appreciated his singular, ever-evolving vision, but Sanchez and his shrine are earning respect.
Inside Tio’s, over a dozen jugs of aguas frescas glimmer like liquid jewels on ice. Fake watermelon wedges and pineapples hang above them from the ceiling, as if they’ve escaped from one of Sanchez’s vibrant murals of fruit. Turn the corner, and a new mural goes under the sea; abalone and oyster shells jut from the wall. Then step outside into a folk art wonderland. Part Watts Towers, part Gaudi fantasia, every turn throughout Sanchez’s vast property reveals some eccentric, eclectic assemblage.
Address:
3948 Mission Inn Avenue
Riverside, CA 92501
Phone:
(951) 788-0230
Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 8 am – 11 pm
Fri-Sat 8 am – 12 pm
Website:
[mappress mapid=”35″]
