Hey, barkeep!: El Charro family may lose a staffer
By Natalia Lopera
nlopera@azstarnet.com
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 07.02.2009
Shawn Levine is nearing a crossroads.
Her great-great-aunt, Monica Flin, started what is now the oldest Mexican restaurant in continuous operation by the same family in the country.
Today Levine is the head bartender of El Charro Café's five locations.
But she's thinking about leaving town to try her luck in real estate and urban planning.
"I don't know if I want to stay in the family business," said Levine, who is also going to summer school.
She hopes to graduate next year from the University of Arizona with a degree in regional development and a minor in marketing.
"I love bartending," Levine said. "But I think it would be really neat just to try to move and try something different. I think I could always come back if I ever wanted to."
Levine has been involved with the restaurant — which is owned by her aunt and uncle, Carlotta and Ray Flores — since she was in the eighth grade.
She started bartending four years ago and was trained by co-worker Sasha Sanchez, who was selected as the hottest bartender in 2006 on Playboy.com.
Levine celebrated her golden birthday last week — she turned 23 on June 23.
"Everybody is like, 'It's going to be your golden year,' and I'm like, 'What the hell's going to happen this year?' Something really good better happen."
Do you have any hobbies?
"I work a lot. I go to school. I like to work out, hang out with my family and read gossip magazines."
Do you speak Spanish?
"No. I can understand a little bit, and I like to practice, especially with the kitchen, but I will not say I'm fluent."
What do you like about bartending?
"I love having regulars come back. I think it's a great feeling having the same people come back and ask for you to take care of them. And I love talking to people, laughing, having a good time. That's the great thing about bartending."
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