Will Rogers was known to say he never met a man he didn’t like. He might have said he never met anyone who didn’t like Hank Lucero.
Lucero, who founded and ran the Green Pepper Mexican Restaurant on Main Street in Seal Beach for many years, passed away peacefully on Saturday, July 20, surrounded by family. He was 85.
Beloved by residents and other merchants in Seal Beach, Lucero was a member of the Seal Beach Chamber of Commerce. He was instrumental in starting the Seal Beach 10K as well as parades and a variety of other town functions.
“I have known Hank for many, many years,” said Lin Bennett, manager of Endless Summer fashion and clothing store on Main Street. “I loved Hank and Betty and their restaurant, the Green Pepper. He was always so kind to me as a single mom.”
Bennett said her son could stop by any day after school and the Luceros would feed him a snack.
“They even had named an enchilada ranchera called a ‘Crooks special’ on the menu after my parents,” she said. “Hank will be missed so much on this street. I loved when he would stop by the shop to say ‘hello.’ His granddaughter Allison works at Endless Summer.”
Henry “Hank” Luecro was born in Denver Colorado on August 20, 1928 and was the youngest of eight children. His family moved to California where he graduated from Banning High School and then joined the service. In 1971, he bought a restaurant in Seal Beach and named it “The Green Pepper.”
“Growing up he lived in Denver Colorado,” his daughter Shelley Gjersvold said. “The family moved to Wilmington, CA. They lived in Seal Beach when he had The Green Pepper. Then they bought my mom’s mothers house in Lakewood. When he passed away he lived in Seal Beach Leisure World.”
During the two decades he ran the restaurant, Lucero was a regular advertiser in the local newspaper then known as The Journal. He used to run a recipe each week with his ad. One of them was the following: “House Dressing recipe. Great on taco salads: 2 cups mayonnaise, 5T ketchup, 3T red wine vinegar, 1/4 cup sugar.”
The restaurant sold in 1991 and was missed by many people.
“Many years ago I had the privilege of working for Hank and Betty at the Green Pepper on Main Street,” said Tamara Olcomendy who became a teacher at Sussman Middle School in Downey. “From the first day, they treated me like family. Hank was always positive, friendly, and welcoming. His big smile greeted me every time I walked through the door. Because of Hank, his restaurant was a great place to work.”
His former customers also remember Lucero for his kindness.
“When I think of The Green Pepper on Main Street I remem ber many family dinners with our sons as they grew up, a friendly welcome from Hank and Betty, seeing lots of familiar faces and good Mexican food over many years,” said longtime Seal Beach resident Gayle Knapp.
Whenever Lucero returned to Main Street to visit, people stopped to reminisce about the fun times and great food they enjoyed at The Green Pepper.
“His restaurant was where we went after the parades,” Knapp said. “I remember one time when the parade was over because it was raining like heck and we all huddled afterwards in The Green Pepper. Hank was a great, friendly guy. I saw him within the last year when I ran into him down here. It was nice to see him.”
Lucero is survived by his wife Betty, son Gary, daughter Shelley Gjersvold, son in law George Gjersvold and grandchildren Adam, Lexie, Allison and Anne.
