Jose Luis and his family, wanting to diversify Oglethorpe County’s cuisine, opened Taco’s Mexican #1 in Lexington. The creation of the restaurant wasn’t without sacrifice and struggles.
Jose Luis and his family had owned a restaurant in their Mexican home state of Guanajuato. Jose Luis used to work in other restaurants’ kitchens, saving until he could work in his own. From cashiers to servers, his entire family supports the business.
His wife of 40 years, Josefina, works in the kitchen. Maydeli, 20, is the only daughter of Jose Luis and Josefina. She started by cleaning tables then became a server and now helps her dad with business matters.
The first Taco’s Mexican Food restaurant opened in 2014, next to the Valero gas station in Crawford. During the first few months, José Luis struggled to break even — but he didn’t give up.
“With the right motivation, anything’s possible. You just have to work really hard,” Jose Luis said.
After gaining popularity, he began to bring in swarms of customers and was able to relocate the restaurant in 2017. The menu was curated after Jose Luis’ culture, Josefina’s own recipes and an infusion of American twists to the entrees. He offers a variety of Mexico’s greatest foods.
“This is the go-to local restaurant for me and my family. The food is great, the service is quick and friendly, and the prices are very affordable,” reads a Google review.
COVID-19’s interruption
Jose Luis described three main ways in which the pandemic has affected him, his family and his restaurant.
It’s a cycle that feeds into all other aspects. Lower rates of customers affects employee retention and affects food supplies. With supply shortages, inflation has also become a greater issue because it affects menu prices which then affects customers.
“Owning a restaurant is a grand responsibility, and with the ongoing pandemic, a lot of restaurants are struggling to keep staff,” Jose Luis said.
He hasn’t given up though.
At times, he and his wife work 13 hours a day, six days a week. Sometimes, they don’t have their first meal until nighttime. On their day off, they take advantage of the free time to rest.
As a small business owner, Jose Luis is also afraid of contracting the virus again. They had to close their doors for three weeks last year due to COVID-19.
Closing the doors has more effects than just revenue loss. They aren’t able to serve their community.
“Sometimes, you know, people forget to pack their lunch, and we welcome them for lunch,” Josefina said. “What if we had to close our doors and they couldn't eat?”
After years of struggles, Jose Luis believes he’s achieved the American dream.
“With great sacrifice, I can say it’s all worth it,” Jose Luis said. “Being my own employer and being independent makes me feel at ease.”
Editor's note: The interviews for this article were conducted in Spanish.