The Centro Basco Hotel was built by J.B. Robidart and opened in September 1940. Mr. Robidart, an insurance agent, was a Basque leader and somewhat a Godfather for the Basque sheepherder and dairy worker families. In 1932, along with Pete Barcelona and Pete Chilobolast, he had helped organize the first Southern California Basque celebration here, including a street dance and entertainment.
Chino Mayor Dennis Yates presents a certificate recognizing the 75th anniversary of the Centro Basco to Monique Berterretche (center), her daughter, Bernadette Berterretche Helton, and grandson Anthony LaFrance.
In 1948 he sold the hotel, which was a seasonal residence for some of the sheep tenders, to Ben Sallaberry, whose wife Melanie later sold the restaurant business and later the hotel itself to the Berterretche family.
Mr. and Mrs. Berterretche immigrated to the United States in 1955. Mr. Berterretche died in 1999, but Mrs. Berterretche remains active in the restaurant, which is operated by her children, Joe Berterretche and Bernadette Berterretche Helton.
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