In 1974 Andy Garcia was definitely a small- time operator, a one-man gang selling Mexican food and novelties at street fairs and carnivals. Three decades later, his Web site on the Internet proclaims Garcia’s Tents and Events, In Albuquerque as “the largest special event rental company in the Southwest.” Along the way

Andy opened Garcia’s Kitchen at Fourth Street and Mountain Road, and its popularity led to other restaurants by the same name around town—one of which gained some measure of fame when El Presidente Clinton ate there on a visit to the Duke City.

A turning point for Garcia came when he began doing much of his business under tents. The Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta became a major site for him, year in and year out. He also began catering backyard parties, weddings, classic dinners, company picnics and other special occasions. Now he has at his command everything that a gala tended affair might need: dance floors, heating, air-conditioning, fountains, linens, podiums, sound systems, fine china, decorations, furniture and party supplies. If requested, he will send party planners to organize the event, entertainers to make it hop, bubble blowers and snow-cone machines to entertain the kiddos, and margarita machines for the parents. “The Magic is in the Tent” says his slogan on the Internet.

Now an octogenarian, Andy smiles as he watches his various enterprises pass more and more into the hands of his children and lately his grandchildren.

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