by Damian Garde
Daily Lobo
Known to many as the mysteriously masked man advertising for Bandito Hideout restaurant, John Voelker enjoys the liberty his job allows him.
"I'm out here trying to be free. I'm just like the guys in 'Point Break,' only I don't want to rob a bank," he said.
Voelker, a 53-year-old native of Queens, N.Y., began his job at the restaurant in March of 1999.
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"I woke up one morning, and at the advice of my higher power, I came over here," he said.
He met Leo Nunez, the restaurant's co-owner, who recognized him from a former street-vending job.
"He said, 'I have this mask and this sign and some fliers,'" Voelker recalled. "I said, 'Yeah, why not?'"
Seven years later, Voelker is still standing on the median between the lanes of Central Avenue, wearing a sign advertising the restaurant's specials and his trademark Luchador mask.
Voelker also makes forays onto the UNM campus, dispersing fliers to passersby.
"Television advertising is down because everybody has a channel-changer," he said. "If they don't like the commercial they're looking at, they just go channel surfing. Me, I'm out there in the street, walking around with fliers all the time. You can say, 'No, thank you,' but you can't go 'click' and turn me off."
At the onset of his job, Voelker made $5 per hour and was given a 50 percent discount on his meals. After his continued success in bringing revenue to the business, Voelker's wage has been raised to $8 per hour, and his meals are free.
"He's more like family than an employee," said co-owner Martha Nunez.
Since hiring Voelker, business has steadily increased, she said.
Voelker is thankful for every moment he has, he said. After a battle with alcoholism in his youth, Voelker is proud to celebrate his 21st year of sobriety.
"I smoke the occasional cigar every once in a while," he said. "But when I do, I do a Billy Clinton and don't inhale. I don't claim to be a perfect person, and I hope I never am, but I get younger every day."
Voelker said his past experience with addiction makes him a perfect candidate for a job as a counselor.
"I'm here for the students," he said. "If anybody thinks their life is too tough, and they want to talk to me in the middle of Central while I'm working, I'm here."
After receiving his raise, Voelker decided to splurge on something he'd always wanted - a 1985 Mazda RX7.
"It's fun, but it ain't cheap," he said.
Voelker acknowledges that his habit of driving well above the speed limit may put him in danger.
"If I die, I'll die happy, because I'll die doing what I love," he said.
Voelker takes particular pride in the masks he chooses to wear while on duty. His selection, known as Pegasus, commemorates the mythological winged horse of Greek lore.
"If I do fall, hopefully the winged horse is going to come down and get me and carry me away to Mount Olympus," he said, justifying his choice. "That, and it matches my car."
Harrison Brooks / Daily Lobo
John Voelker stands next to his car in the parking lot at Bandito Hideout on Wednesday. He advertises for the restaurant while wearing a Mexican wrestler mask.
