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Grocery chain founder Ignacio Fimbres dies at 89

Ignacio "Don Nacho" Fimbres Moreno, a member of the family that founded of the Calimax regional grocery chain and other businesses, died Wednesday in Tijuana at age 89. A Sonora native, he was born Dec. 26, 1921. He was known for his philanthropy.

His brother, José Fimbres Moreno, died in 2008 at age 77. In 2009, a new graduate school building at Cetys University was named for José Fimbres, with one hall of classrooms named for Ignacio Fimbres and another for Ignacio's wife, María Teresa Sánchez de Fimbres.

Ignacio and his wife had four children: Ignacio Rafael, Beatriz, María Teresa and Maritza. Ignacio Fimbres Sánchez is the president of the board of Calimax.

Ignacio Fimbres Moreno was the third of seven children of Baraquiel Fimbres, who with his family transformed the Tijuana butcher shop Mercado Zona Libre at Fifth Street and Niños Héroes into what would become Calimax, that name being a shortening of Calidad Maxima, or Maximum Quality. The Calimax website says its first supermarket opened in 1939, and that Calimax has 70 supermarkets, two warehouse stores, and established 13 Smart & Final stores in Mexico. Stories said Ignacio Fimbres entered the family business in 1938.

Tijuana newspapers were full of ads from officials, businesses, friends, family and others expressing their sorrow over Fimbres Moreno's death.

Sucks that he died knowing his grandson was murdered.

I got to know a few members of the Fimbre family on a casual basis including Ignacio and was fortunate to have often played with one of his brothers in a foursome at Campestre years back. Very decent, hard working and generous people who have made a big impact on the Baja economy.

QEPD