Sean McDonnell
The Chronicle-Telegram
AVON LAKE — At 17, Humberto Melgoza had his first restaurant job washing dishes. At 38, he’s getting ready to open his fourth restaurant.
He said working his way up the ladder was a natural progression.
“You get hungry,” Melgoza said. “I mean you know you can make a living and you’re there already. I mean you just run and run and run.”
Melgoza will open Rico’s Tacos and Tequila at 33493 Lake Road. The space most recently housed Eggcellent Steak, and before that, Casita Del Lago Mexican Restaurant.
Melgoza said he is renovating the space, purchasing new equipment and getting the necessary permits. He is anticipating opening restaurant in late September or October.
“We’re talking probably later September if we’re lucky,” he said.
Rico’s will be Melgoza’s third restaurant in Lorain County. He owns Papasitos and Beer Mexican Grill in Lorain, Las Cazuelas Mexican Restaurant in Avon Lake and El Tapatio Mexican Restaurant and Cantina in Youngstown. He’s lived in Avon Lake since 2008.
The restaurant will be on the inexpensive end, which Melgoza said is to make it more accessible for customers.
“I don’t want to go too expensive,” Melgoza said. “I want to go cheap and that way everybody can afford it and keep coming.”
Work on the restaurant started in January, Melgoza said. The building wasn’t up to code, he said, so those problems will have to be fixed before they can open.
“There were a lot of issues,” he said. “But we’ll fix it up.”
Melgoza said he wished there was a magic recipe for a successful restaurant, but there isn’t. He said the most important things are food quality and good service, but the rest is up to the restaurant owner.
“A lot of Mexican restaurants do different ways, and they make it happen,” he said.
He said he wants his restaurants to be branded separately, but Melgoza is taking a piece of Las Cazuelas with him to Rico’s. Mario Salcido, a waiter at Las Cazuelas, will be the manager.
After Rico’s is running smoothly, Melgoza said, it wouldn’t be too long before he opens another restaurant. He said when there’s an opportunity in the area, he likes to take it before another restaurant owner does.
“I prefer to compete with myself instead of competing with somebody else,” he said.
Contact Sean McDonnell at 329-7148 or smcdonnell@chroniclet.com.
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