Near the end of Spring Street sits an elegant white building with a black shingled roof. Its left side is an art gallery, its right side a restaurant. Inside the latter, students and faculty chatter excitedly around colorful tiled tables as they enjoy burritos, quesadillas, and chiles rellenos. Potted cacti dot the establishment — a neat row of Jarritos and a signed hockey stick rest on a side counter. This vibrant atmosphere is home to Tony’s Sombrero, a Mexican restaurant mere minutes away from the center of the College’s campus.
Tony’s Sombrero was founded about 12 years ago by Antonio “Tony” Palestino, the original owner. He began serving Mexican food in Williamstown by catering outdoor events for the Williamstown Theatre Festival and selling dishes to theatergoers through a food truck. According to his brother Hector Palestino, who now operates the restaurant, Tony Palestino quickly recognized the demand for a Mexican restaurant in town and founded Tony’s Sombrero on Spring Street soon after.
When Tony Palestino decided to open a new restaurant last year, he turned to his brother to take over Tony’s. Originally from Puebla, Mexico, Hector Palestino moved to New York City when he was 15 and worked in the restaurant industry for several decades. He eventually moved to Lenox, Mass., where he served as head line cook at the Country Club of Pittsfield for 16 years. “I have a mentor there that used to be the executive chef, so I learned a lot,” Hector Palestino said.
Hector Palestino and his wife Emma Torres began to take over Tony’s Sombrero between November and December of last year, and they officially became the new owners on Jan. 1, 2023. They both had initially planned to keep their previous jobs but quickly realized they needed to commit to Tony’s Sombrero full time. “By January, February, March, we started getting busier and busier,” Hector said. “I had to quit my job, and she had to quit her job. Sometimes, it’s six of us working in this little place — so it’s been a huge change, and it’s been great.”
Tony’s Sombrero’s new management team has shortened the menu and added dishes that better appeal to College students. Hector Palestino reported that burritos appeared to be the most popular item among students coming into the restaurant.
Hector Palestino also noted his appreciation for the restaurant’s regulars, which includes the men’s hockey team. “They were some of our first customers here,” he said. “Some of them were freshmen, so they started coming here without [knowing] the difference between now and then. They gave us more advertising … by talking to their friends, and they started bringing more people.” He also added that many other sports teams frequent Tony’s Sombrero and that the restaurant’s clientele is mostly students at the College.
The new management also implemented some physical changes to the building as well. When they first took over in January, the couple renovated the interior in only three days. Last summer, they also added an outdoor patio behind the restaurant, which allows for about 20 more people to dine in at a time.
Because their restaurant is already receiving so much business, Hector Palestino hopes to expand the building in order to accommodate all their customers. “We don’t have as much space,” he said. “We never expected to be this busy and [receive] all that response from the community.”
