Gringo’s Mexican Kitchen President/CEO Russell Ybarra realized the potential in East Montgomery County when he first purchased land near the intersection of the Grand Parkway and U.S. Highway 59 to build a new restaurant.
Before officially breaking ground on the Gringo’s in Valley Ranch Town Center, Ybarra and his team partnered with the East Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation, a subsidiary of EMCID, which provided logistical information in terms of new developments in the area that assisted in evaluating the demographics for site selection.
“They assisted us in understanding their educational partnerships with the local college systems and provided economic incentive opportunities that benefited the company as well as the residents within East Montgomery County,” said Al Flores with Gringo’s Mexican Kitchen. “The grants and economic assistance programs are a good opportunity for businesses to expand in a quickly developing county.”
The original Gringo’s was in Pearland, in the same building Ybarra’s father’s previous restaurant called home. He remodeled the property on a non-existent budget and opened the first Gringo’s Mexican Kitchen on January 11, 1993. It has thrived ever since; the company now includes 13 locations.
Gringo’s continues to maintain a friendly atmosphere that makes it the perfect place for families to come together to enjoy menu items that go beyond the usual Tex-Mex variety. As a treat, guests can enjoy free soft-serve ice cream after their meal.
According to Gringo’s Chief Marketing Officer Heather McKeon, Ybarra opened the restaurant with one, stay-true philosophy, ‘to serve the highest quality Mexican food at the lowest price possible.’ The company holds to this philosophy, and it is the single most contributing factor to the company’s continued success.
“New Caney was a prime location at an intersection of two major roadways surrounded by rooftops (families/housing communities;) it was a win-win for Gringo’s. it was a win-win for Gringo’s,” said Heather. “Our success is built on community relationships ― we are in the people business…people who serve rice and beans. Reinvesting in our team members and the local community is the cornerstone of our day-to-day to operations. We approach our business with a purpose over profits mentality. We take care of the people who make Gringo’s possible.”