It was situated in downtown, in the middle of the Avenida de la Revolución, in front of Tijuana Jai-Alai that brought luster to this town in Mexican Baja California. The Chiki Jai was witness and a reminder of the good years of pilota in Mexico, and of its decay. It was inaugurated in 1947 by former pelotari Napoleon, “Napo” Olasolo, the same year the fronton opened its doors in Tijuana. His wife inherited it after his death. Over the years, the Basque property and clients were lost. The history remained in its name and its walls that have now burned.
Tijuana, Mexico. In reality it was the chronicle of a looming death that was precipitated. The place was soon to be lost to construction of a luxury apartment building, the tallest in this area of the city, and the fire has done nothing but draw attention and provide a light dramatic element to the last days of the establishment; a reflection of the history of the great age of Basque pilota in this part of California.
Tijuana was part of the dreams of Basque pelota players in their journeys from city to city where Basque pilota was played professionally. In 1947, the impressive Tijuana Jai Alai was inaugurated. For years, a group of pelotaris and their families settled on both sides of the border.
That same year the Chiki Jai was founded by former pilotari Napoleon Olasolo. It was oldest Basque restaurant in the area, and throught the years other pilotaris and former pilotaris inaugurated new Basque restaurants in the area.
But after the good years, without its original owners and pelotari customers, the Chiki Jai remained on that corner in front of the kantxa as a keeper of the history which still hung from some of its walls. Some Basque dishes still remained on its menu as a witness to its Basque past, although it was just a shadow of its former self.
Last January 19th, the restaurant's whole building burned down with everything inside.
(There is an agreement, prior to the fire, to open a restaurant just half of a block from its original location, with the same name)
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