New owners for El Ranchero
Published 9:59 am Wednesday, October 17, 2012
BY ANDREW FAISON/CONTRIBUTING WRITER
andrew.faison@yahoo.com
Pedro Rios Mendoza is a new co-owner of El Ranchero Mexican restaurant in Franklin. -- Andrew Faison | Tidewater News
FRANKLIN—Pedro Rios Mendoza over the last 18 years has done just about every job in the restaurant business, but this is his first stint as an owner.
Mendoza and Ismael Macias recently purchased El Ranchero in the Walmart shopping plaza in Franklin from Bolivar Ramos. Ramos in August 2011 opened El Ranchero after Don Pancho’s relocated from the location to Armory Drive.
“We will be keeping the name, but we will offer different seasonings, friendly service and a more one-on -one relationship with the customers,” Mendoza said.
He said the food would be fresh and different.
“We will serve fresh guacamole in the restaurant,” the 34-year-old said. “We will also have white sauce served with the chips.”
There are a variety of dishes, and specialties will be fajitas, enchiladas and burritos, said Mendoza. His favorite dish is tacos with rice and beans.
“We want to make the restaurant a more family friendly experience right down to making it fun for the little kids,” Mendoza said.
He worked at a restaurant in Colonial Heights before taking over the Franklin restaurant. Macias also owns El Loro Mexican restaurant in Chesapeake.
