FORT BEND COUNTY, Texas – For nearly 40 years, Lopez Mexican Restaurant has been serving up more than just Tex-Mex.
The family-owned business has been dishing out a sense of community.
“It goes back to people. Loving people. Loving our customers, loving our employees. Loving our community,” Jonathan Lopez said.
Lopez said his parents first opened their doors with a restaurant back in 1978.
Five years later, they expanded.
Today, the family’s restaurant in southwest Houston, which they opened in 2000, has grown to nearly five times its original size.
Now, what they’ve worked so hard to build, is about to change once again, but in a different kind of way.
“We had a customer, Mr. Wells. He always told me when you open the second location, don't do it because it's a good idea, do it because it comes from the heart,” Lopez said.
They are set to open a second restaurant, adjacent to Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale’s Gallery Furniture in Richmond near the 7200 block of the West Grand Parkway.
It has a full-service bar, outdoor patio and a dining room that’s close to 3,500 square feet.
Of all the places they could have gone to, this seemed like the perfect opportunity and the right fit.
“It's always good to be next door to someone with shared values, family, community, supporting people,” Lopez said.
McIngvale said he admires their work ethic and their dedication.
“We're excited about it. Going to bring in a lot of great customers and I think it's going to be a real asset to Fort Bend County,” McIngvale said.
The new restaurant is scheduled to open in the fall of 2017.
