Together with his four sons (Miguel, Julio, Matthew and Alejandro) and his two daughters (Margarita and Monica), Rocky Velasco now runs both operations, and couldn't be happier.

Velasco, who's worked in the restaurant industry for 40 years, developing his own recipes, has to be one of the few chefs who learned to cook in Anchorage, Alaska. "I went looking for a job there in 1962, and got started at a little restaurant. After six months, the cook went back to Mexico and I took over. I stayed on in charge of the kitchen for six years before coming to California, where I first worked at The Bullfighter in Palo Alto," Rocky Velasco says. "In 1980, I decided to buy my own place, Casa Lupe. The restaurant business has been very good to me. It's not big money, but I've been able to make a living and send my children to university. It's very rewarding."

"The previous owners of El Charro had been to our restaurant and liked it and the fact that we're truly a family business. They approached us about buying their place, and we realized it was a great opportunity to share what we do in Sunnyvale with a new community in Campbell," says Miguel Velasco. "People were surprised by the change in faces here at first, because no one really knew they were thinking of selling."

Specialties include enchiladas, chili rellenos, shrimp fajitas and menudo (which is always popular on Saturdays). There's also a full bar, which features fresh peach, mango, strawberry and banana margaritas.

Zone or Zono? There's been a state of local confusion with the August 1 opening of the new Sushi Zone at 75 S. San Tomas Aquino Road, in the Kirkwood Plaza. Previously home to continental restaurant Le Zest, Sushi Zone specializes in very fresh fish.

The confusing part for customers is Sushi ZONO, located at 831 W. Hamilton Ave., behind Curves for Women and Payless Shoe Source. Sushi ZONO on W. Hamilton has been run by owner Harunobu Takeda and his family for the past 17 years. More than a few customers (and even distributors) have presumed the two are the same or at least related.

While the two share nearly identical names, they are completely different and separate enterprises. Although it would seem Campbell has room for more than two sushi places, the name factor is likely to remain a problem.

"People have been coming here for years. They know the high quality of fish we purchase and prepare, and that we order in quantities to assure freshness," says Eitaro Takeda, who works at Sushi ZONO with his father. "It's too bad for the customers that the names are so similar."

Sushi ZONO on W. Hamilton Avenue is open for lunch Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., and for dinner Monday through Thursday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday evenings from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and Sunday evenings from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. The restaurant can be reached at 408.374.8366.

"I've been in the restaurant business for years, but this is my first restaurant endeavor," says Sushi Zone owner Danny Chung. "It took a lot of time, money and headaches to complete the remodeling in time for the grand opening on August 1, but I am very satisfied and happy. That night we had people lined up out the door, so our banners announcing the event really helped."

Even though it's only been open a short time, Chung is already receiving repeat customers. "People have come back three and four times already. They seem pleased with the freshness and quality of service compared to price," Chung says. "We're fusion-style sushi, so we offer both traditional and modern, American-style choices, such as our cocktail-themed rolls like the Long Island Ice Roll (eel and cucumber topped with salmon and avocado). If everything goes well, within the next couple of years, I hope to develop Sushi Zone into a chain."

From now through August 30, Sushi Zone is running a grand-opening special: 20 percent off the cost of the entire meal by using an online coupon available on its Web site at http://www.sushizone.net.

Sushi Zone in the Kirkwood Plaza is open for lunch Monday through Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and for dinner Monday through Thursday from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday evenings from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday evenings from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. The restaurant can be reached at 408.866.1323.

In my last column, which was printed in the August 6 issue of the Campbell Reporter, board-certified cosmetic dermatologist Rick Noodleman, M.D., medical director of Age Defying Dermatology, was incorrectly referred to as a plastic surgeon. While unique, his revercel® line of skin treatment products now being offered through Nordstrom at Westfield Valley Fair is not patented. Throughout the remainder of August, Nordstrom is offering deluxe-size samples of revercel's Papaya Cleanser and Oil-Free Sun Defense SPF 30+ to its customers. My apologies to Dr. Noodleman.

Got a cool new Campbell business, a hot news tip or a business anniversary or special event to announce? We'd love to hear about it. Contact Michelle Crowe at 408.378.9056 or a1writers@hotmail.com.