Eight years after Wichita restaurant shooting, owner is ready to retire, leave fear behind
Ruben’s Mexican Grill owner Ruben Acosta is tired of looking over his shoulder.
Though Acosta, 66, has come a long way since he was shot three times during a robbery in his restaurant eight years ago, he’s still struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder, he said.
So Acosta, who first opened his Wichita restaurant in 1998, has decided to retire. He’s selling the business to new owners and will work his last shift at Ruben’s, 915 W. Douglas, on April 25.
“I’ve decided to enjoy life before something else can happen,” he said.
The new owner is Tony Madrigal, who previously owned a restaurant called La Familia that operated from 1997 to 2001 at 31st and South Seneca. Madrigal said he plans to run the restaurant with the help of his wife, daughter, son and grandson.
He plans to keep everything the same, Madrigal said, though the family will add some of their own dishes.
It was important to Acosta, he said, to find someone who would honor what he built.
“I said, ‘Please keep the legend. Please keep the name of Ruben’s,’” Acosta said. “And he said, ‘Okay, I promise you I will.’”
The Acostas first opened their restaurant 28 years ago inside the Farm & Art building downtown, where the Museum of World Treasures operates now. They’d previously been selling homemade tacos from a stand at the market then got the chance to take over the restaurant space, which had 12 tables.
They were there until 2003, when their restaurant was one of many businesses evicted from the building as the owners moved away from retail. Ruben’s moved that same year to the corner of Douglas and McLean, and the Acostas changed the name to Ruben’s Mexican Grill. They were there until 2013, when they moved to the current location at 915 W. Douglas.
It was in that space that, after the restaurant closed on June 9, 2017, an intruder entered through the back door — unlocked as an employee took the trash out — and demanded money.
The robber, Reginald Kane, fired his gun and hit Acosta three times. Acosta, who also had a gun, returned fire.
Acosta was in the hospital for more than a month after the shooting and has since had 22 surgeries. Kane, who also was hit during the exchange of gunfire, was convicted a year later of attempted first-degree murder and eight other crimes and sentenced to serve 62 years and 9 months in prison.
Acosta didn’t return to work until a year and a half after the shooting, but he’s been running the restaurant since Anita, his wife of 44 years, retired three years ago.
He decided not to cover the holes that the flying bullets left in his restaurant’s drywall, and they’re still visible today — on the south wall, above a booth on the east wall, even in the ceiling above the register. Acosta also still has the blue bank pouch he’d put the day’s proceeds in, which Kane was holding when Acosta returned fire. There’s a single bullet hole in the center of the bag.
Although he’s looking forward to enjoying his grandchildren and wife and reducing his stress, Acosta said, he’s still sad to leave his life’s work behind.
“I’m going to miss my business. I’m going to miss my customers,” he said. “I know I’m going to cry the day I announce it. But I’m still going to stop by once in a while and shake hands with my customers.”
Acosta’s last day at work will be April 25. On Friday and Saturday of this week, the restaurant will be offering 25% off to customers who purchase a full meal and a drink.
Ruben’s Mexican Grill will then close April 26-30. The new owners will take over and reopen May 1.
This story was originally published April 14, 2025 at 11:31 AM.
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