New owner, but business as usual for iconic San Antonio burger destination Chris Madrid’s

After 40 years of business in the Madrid family, the iconic hamburger joint has been sold to Richard Peacock, owner of the popular Alamo Heights restaurant Paloma Blanca. Click ahead to view some of San Antonio's most-recommended burgers, including a Chris Madrid's classic. less Click ahead to view some of San ... more After 40 years of business in the Madrid family, the iconic hamburger joint has been sold to Richard Peacock, owner of the popular Alamo Heights restaurant Paloma Blanca. Photo: Tom Reel / Staff File Photo Photo: Tom Reel / Staff File Photo Image 1 of / 96 Caption Close New owner, but business as usual for iconic San Antonio burger destination Chris Madrid’s 1 / 96 Back to Gallery

Over the course of 40 years, Chris Madrid transformed the restaurant that bears his name from a startup burger and taco shop with a few tables in its Beacon Hill neighborhood into a bona fide San Antonio institution.

The gooey macho-sized “Cheddar Cheezy” and tostada burgers, cold beer, nachos and hand-cut fries have a loyal following, and for years, the staff at Chris Madrid’s has greeted the many regulars by their first names.

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The food and the atmosphere isn’t going to change anytime soon, but the ownership has. The Madrid family announced last week that it has sold the business at 1900 Blanco Road to Richard Peacock, owner of Paloma Blanca, the popular Alamo Heights Mexican restaurant.

“It is not without sadness that we, as a family, exit the restaurant business and this chapter in our lives,” the Madrid family said on the restaurant’s website. “But, it is also with deep vigor and excitement that we pass this torch on to another family who is committed to the same legacy that Chris started 40 years ago.”

Chris Madrid died unexpectedly in March 2012 of a heart attack, and family members took the reins of the restaurant.

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When Peacock closed on the deal last Thursday, he made a point to let the veteran staff of 40 know that he had no interest in making major changes to personnel, menu or the name of the restaurant.

“What I absolutely know now after just a few days, it’s not so much an ownership thing as it is stewardship,” Peacock said. “My main job now is to reassure not only the staff, but also the public ... that is so emotionally invested, that I intend to do no harm to the legacy of the Madrid family.”

Ownership does have its privileges, though. Peacock was able to get a first-hand look into the kitchen secrets that make those tasty burgers.

“I didn’t realize what a big deal it was to see the process,” Peacock said. “Chris was very sensitive to not allowing people back there to see how he did it.”

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There are plans to renovate the property, specifically the bathrooms, kitchen and patio areas.

“We do have a desire to give the guys in the kitchen a better working environment,” Peacock said. “But step one is to get in and get a feel for how the restaurant flows. We want to make sure the staff is a part of the decisions we make, and whatever we do has to feel like a natural evolution.”

Peacock said he’s so trusting of the current staff and operations, he doesn’t even have his own set of keys to the property.

“At some point, I’ll probably have to get keys to the door, but it’s not something I’m worried about,” Peacock said.

Business hours currently remain 11 a.m. until 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For more information, go to chrismadrids.com.

cblount@express-news.net

Twitter: @chuck_blount