Women Who Rock feature: Veronica Cruz

#785 WOMEN LIVE WHO ROCK

MADRE, WIFE, HERMANA + ENTREPRENEUR FOR 21 YEARS

VERONICA CRUZ

by Teresa Hernandez + Kerrice Mapes photo by Marcelino Gonzalez III, Create/Uplift

The Topeka restaurant landscape is ever changing and in the cuisine niche of Mexican restaurants, the abundance of choices is as varied as their flavors of salsa. For a restaurant to be thriving in the same location 21 years later is a feat on its own merit. Tacos El Mexicano is one of those places with a rockin’ lady behind the food and success.

Veronica Cruz was born in Durango, Mexico and moved to California when she was eight. It was there that she meet and married her husband Armando. The couple moved to Topeka in 1994 deciding that this was a good place to raise their children and provide a better education. Armando worked at Rosa’s (closed in 2008) and became involved with the community. “We use to host dances at the Expocentre in Ag Hall,” said Veronica. “It was actually there I starting making tacos,” she continued, and the idea for Tacos El Mexicano was born.

Located at 2002 SE California Ave, the restaurant began with a mere four tables and a small kitchen but expanded to encompass the entire building a few years later. In 2000 they began serving breakfast, to accommodate travelers on Los Paisano Autobuses, a service for people traveling to and from Mexico City. (Tacos El Mexicano was the only place to sell tickets before the depot at 200 SE 3rd St.)

“It’s hard being a women and working and having kids,” said Veronica. “There never is enough time. But strong women work hard and learn to do what you have to do,” she continued. “You can’t depend on anyone.”

Taking her strong work ethic and some Oaxaca flavors from her roots, Tacos El Mexicano is a California-style, fast-casual Mexican restaurant with droves of raving, loyal costumers. When asked some of her go-to items on the menu she pointed out the carna asade tacos and tacos el pastor, but the raved, “our chicken tacos. Once you have them, you’ll never change.”

When asked if she would do it all over again, knowing what she knows now, Veronica with a slight pause, smiled and said “Yes. I”m used to being my own owner.”

Being an owner comes with its up and downs and Veronica is no stranger to that. Throughout the past 21 years of business she has looked at expansion, opening a location in Emporia without success, changed the status of ownership from two family partners to themselves and felt the pressures of meeting changing community desires like participating in Taco Tuesdays and whether or not to sell alcohol. At the end of the day, Veronica stays true to her roots and vision. “We have such loyal customers,” she explained, "it's what keeps us going. We can’t be a minute late on Sunday, because rain or shine we have a group that is here right at 9am after church.”

Tacos El Mexicano is planted in their location, in their menu and in providing exemplary customer service. When something works it works and we thank you Armando, Veronica and the entire crew for working hard to keep the flavors alive and enhancing the cultural makeup of our

city. aseveneightfive

‘‘

hard being a women and working and having kids. There never is enough time. But strong women work hard and learn to do what you have to do. You can't depend on anyone."

"Es dificil ser mujer, trabajar y criar niños. Nunca hay tiempo suficiente, pero mujers fuertes trabajan duro y aprenden hace lo necesario para sobrevivir. Nunca puedes depender de nadie. ‘‘It's

El Paisaje de restaurantes mexicano siempre esta cambiando en

Topeka como la variedad de salsa y suestilo de comida. Para un restaurante tener éxito por 21 años en el mismo lugar es un honor. Tacos el Mexicano es uno de esos lugares con una mjer detras de su éxito.

Veronica Cruz nacio en Durango, Mexico y se mudo a California a la edad de ocho años. En California, fue donde Veronica conocio a su esposa Armando. en 1994 decidieron mudarse a Topeka para pader darle a sus hijos un mejor estilo de vida y education. Armandao trabajo en el restaurante Rosa's (cierro en 2008) y se envolucro en la comunidad. "Nosotros haciamos bailes en el Expocentre in Ag Hall y ahi fue donde empese a vender tacos" luego nacio el sueño de Tacos El Mexicano.

Localizado en la 2002 SE California, el restaurante abrio sus puertas con ter solo cuatro mesas. Luego expandieron y añadieron mas mesas para poder sostener el trafico del desayuno (Empesaron a servir desayuno) y los que viajaban en Los Paisano Autobuses hacia Mexico. (Tacos el Mexicano era el unico lugar donde padias comprar boletos para el Autobus.)

"Es dificil ser mujer, trabajar y criar niños" dice Veronica. "Nunca hay tiemp suficiente, pero mujers fuertes trabajan duro y aprenden hace lo necesario para sobrevivir. Nunca puedes depender de nadie."

Tomando su etica laboral y cultura Oaxaca. Tacos el Mexicano es un resturante casual con estila de California y fanaticada de cliente fiel. Cuando le pregunte sobre la comida mas solicitada del menu ella rapido Mexicano el taco de carne asada, tacos al Pastor pera "se entusiasmo cuando hablo de las tacos de pollo diciend nuestros tacos de pollo. A la vez que los puelos, no vaz a pader combiar."

Cuando se le pregunto, "¿Sabiendo los que sabes ahora, 10 harías de nuevo?" Veronica tomo un momento de silencis y com una sonrisa respondio "Si! Estoy muy acostumbrada hacer mi propia Jefa."

Siendo dueña de un restaurante tiene sus buenas y malas y Veronica lo sobre vivio. Con 21 años de propetaria Veronica expandio su resturante, abro un segundo negocia sin exito y adapto a los cambios de la comunidad. Al final de todo Veronica permanecio fija en sus suenos. "Mia clientes son los que le tengo que agradecer por mi exito, ellos son los que me hacen sigir adelante. Los Domingo no podemos luegar tarde porque depues del culto. Un grup llega a resturante a los 9a en punto."

Tacos el Mexicano permanocera en el mismo lugar continuaran sirviendo comida delíciosa y servicio al cliente ejemplar. Cuando algo funciona, funciona y te damos lag gracias Armando, Veronica y los empleados por trabajar duro, manten er el sabor y cultura vivo en nuestra civdad a traves de la comida. aseveneightfive

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