24K
Posts
16K
Followers
The latest Quad Cities news, weather and sports from Local 4 WHBF on https://OurQuadCities.com.
Iconic QC restaurant will close its doors: ‘Time to retire,’ sign says
By Linda Cook,
6 hours agoThe Rudy's Tacos location at 2716 18th Ave., Rock Island, will close soon, according to its outdoor sign.
On Wednesday, the sign said "Closing Oct. 30th. Time to retire. Thanks for 42 years."
A long history in the Quad Cities
Rudy's was founded in 1973, according to the Rudy's Tacos website, which says Rudy’s Tacos began with Rudy and Marilyn Quijas’ vision to bring Mexican cuisine "and a welcoming community space to their Quad Cities home."
Recipes came straight from Rudy’s mother, Mary Louise, who wrote nothing down. She came in to work for the first year, preparing meat bases and sauces and passing down generations of home-cooking.
According to the website, Rudy initially owned a bar in the Village of East Davenport. He noticed after bars closed, people were all looking for somewhere to eat. This drove them to purchase the nearby storefront in 1973. The first Rudy’s was a small restaurant with just three booths.
According to the website, "Rudy Quijas was the outgoing face of the business. He was an Air Force veteran, and a member of the East Davenport Turners, Elks Lodge 298, and Davenport Moose Lodge. He made friends wherever he went and was known to generously support athletic events and teams including Little Leagues, golf tournaments, and Mexican-American traveling basketball."
Meanwhile, the website says, "Marilyn Quijas was the backbone of the operation; cooking, managing the books, and raising four kids. Sometimes she was managing multiple restaurants at once."
A few years after the first restaurant opened, Rudy’s was ready to expand. The second location opened on Cedar Street in Davenport, then in 1979, a location opened across the river. Within 10 years, Rudy’s had seven locations through the Quad Cities area.
"Rudy Quijas passed away from prostate cancer at 55. His fight against cancer is still deeply felt by his friends and family, who honor his legacy with the support of Us Too and an annual promotion of prostate cancer awareness," according to the website.
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com.
Comments
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
Thomas Smith
The latest Quad Cities news, weather and sports from Local 4 WHBF on https://OurQuadCities.com.
24.3K
Posts
15.9K
Followers