Today we’d like to introduce you to Amelia Contreras.
Amelia, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I started off as a house keeper and my husband as an employee of the city of Dallas. We worked sun up to sun down and began saving money in order to pursue our dream of owning our own business. We got to a place where we were able to finally open the doors to our first restaurant in Garland. We had no experience but had the drive, focus and work ethic needed to survive in the restaurant business. It was a small, hole in the wall where customer service and home-style traditional Mexican food became our staple. We worked hard and made lots of scarifies but always kept God and family first. My 3 children grew up in the business and soon became an integral part of the daily responsibilities of the restaurant. My entire family worked together.
Eventually, we outgrew our Garland location and decided to open a second location in Rowlett. Amelia’s Cocina Mexicana carries the same values as we did when we started but with a new focus on adding to your dining experience. We continue to provide friendly customer service, traditional home-style Mexican food but have added a full service bar and weekend entertainment. The City of Rowlett has been very welcoming and the customers we have are some of the best! We again, have outgrown our location and are preparing to move into our own building. The new location will include a large outdoor patio and private party room. We will also have our tortilla factory on site, where customers can purchase our staple items: fresh corn or flour tortillas and chips.
With growth like we would have never imagined, my family continues work together and we continue to thank God for the opportunities we have had.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not been a smooth road by any means. Trying to raise healthy kids, keep a close marriage and running a lucrative business is a tough thing to do. Every day there can be a different challenge. Business can go through tough seasons or some days it feels like everything possible is going wrong. At the end of the day, I remind myself that I have to keep going. As long as I have life and good health every challenge has a solution. I remind myself “This too shall pass”…
Amelia’s Cocina Mexicana and Amelia’s Tortilleria – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
We specialize in traditional homemade Mexican food. That means, salsa is homemade daily, our tortillas are handmade and our recipes are authentic. We focus on fresh food daily.
We are most proud of what we represent. We are a company that started from humble beginnings that focused on putting our customers first. We represent the American dream, that regardless of nationality or gender, hard work and persistence pays off.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
The proudest moment of my career is knowing that I’ve made it!
Amelia’s Cocina Mexicana opened its doors right in the middle of the recession. It was extremely tough but we were able to overcome!
Pricing:
- Beef Fajitas $15.00
- Guiso de Puerco $9.00
- Ceviche Cocktail $7.00
- Menudo $8.00
- Pechuga de Pollo Flamiada $12.00
- Gordita Plate $10.00
Contact Info:
- Address: 3801 LAKEVIEW PKWY
STE 200, Rowlett, Texas 75088 - Website: ameliasrestaurant.com
- Phone: 469-326-1320
- Facebook: ameliascocinamexicana
Image Credit:
Pictures by Just Plain Creative
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