TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) — Alejandro Serious Mexican Food opened its doors about a month ago, and despite rising costs, the owner says business is booming.
“It’s all honestly inspired by a collaboration of my wife Blanca and then our two families and some of the tragedies and we’re like we’re going to honor them, we’re going to make this a very loving place,” said Alejandro Diaz, who recently opened the restaurant.
He owned two restaurants in the past and planned to open another.
He decided to open this restaurant earlier than planned after losing his brother.
“With the passing of my brother, which really affected me, I always tell people that it’s like losing a son or a daughter to me, we were so close and I lost a few young cousins who were close to me, many other family members and friends,” Diaz said.
Now, menu items are named after family members and are also inspired by family recipes.
Diaz said his drive to honor his family and his experience helped the restaurant succeed.
“It is extremely difficult to open up in this environment, again I think with experience and dynamism. We work seven days a week for three months to create this place,” explains Diaz.
Waitress Isabella Burbank said it has been successful so far.
“As we’ve been so busy to the point where we’re running out of food and just like now, we’re starting to have a forty minute wait,” Burbank said.
She said the environment created by Diaz and his wife feels like a family.
“They’re really trying to help everybody, not just themselves, and I know that’s real because they don’t get any benefit from it,” Burbank said.
Diaz said he’s excited to continue to grow his staff and his restaurant. He and his wife plan to add colorful cocktails to the menu soon.
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Reyna Preciado is a reporter for KGUN 9, she joined the KGUN 9 team in July 2022 after graduating from Arizona State University. Share your story ideas with Reyna via email [email protected] or by connecting to Instagram, or Twitter.
