THE WAY TO JARRELL'S CORAZÓN

COVER FEATURE THE WAY TO JARRELL’S by Charlotte Kovalchuk • photos courtesy José León CORAZÓN

When José and Marcos León opened the Mexicano Grille and Bar in Jarrell 13 years ago, they joked about opening a restaurant in a town with mostly undeveloped land and 1,600 people. “I told my brother, ‘We’re just going to feed cattle out here,’” José says.

With the restaurant industry in their DNA, the two pushed through the days before Jarrell’s growth spurt, a recession, and a pandemic to turn the Mexicano Grille and Bar into the community staple it is today.

AUTHENTIC FAMILY BUSINESS

Growing up on a ranch in Guadalajara, Mexico, José remembers his mom cooking everything from scratch and inspiring all 15 of her children to pursue culinary careers after their family emigrated to the United States in the ’60s. The León family went on to open Mexicano Grill and Bar restaurants and serve Tex-Mex and Mexican cuisine in Temple, Waco, Belton, Jarrell, Sugarland, Stafford, Cleburne, and Mexia. At 17, José was managing the Temple location and, at 19, he began building his own Mexicano restaurant, drawn José and Marcos León (circa 2011) have always made family and community a priority.

by the “I-35 gold mine for the restaurant business” and a real estate friend’s mention of Jarrell’s growth potential.

After opening the Jarrell location in 2009, José persevered and was one of the few local businesses able to weather the recession. “Many of them have come and gone,” he says. “We’ve been part of the growth of Jarrell, and the growth has been part of us. Knowing the customers who come to the restaurant and seeing the same faces for 12-plus years—I really enjoy seeing regular customers, and knowing they enjoy the food. That’s what keeps me going.”

Customers are what also helped him through 2020, when communities had to shut down and he was forced to let go of most of his team. “It’s been nearly three years and we’re barely getting our full staff back in place. It was a struggle,” he says. “But opening a drive-through and being overwhelmed with community support made a huge difference.” As a result, José and his brother were able to add a second eatery to Jarrell’s food scene in October—Taco-Tex & Micheladas opened just north of the Mexicano Grille and Bar. Both locations embody José and Marcos’s dedication to cooking from scratch using their mom’s recipes—particularly the customer favorite fajitas. The restaurants also host Tacorita Tuesdays (tacos and margaritas) and family friendly Karaoke Nights on Thursdays.

GIVING BACK

From the beginning, José and Marcos have maintained the importance of giving back to the community that has given so much to them. “They’ve supported us for 12-plus years. If not for the community, we wouldn’t be in business so it’s our responsibility to give back,” José says.

Several local organizations have enjoyed their generosity, including the Jarrell Community Library and Resource Center, which receives a percentage of both restaurants’ sales the first Monday of every month. José and Marcos have also sponsored school sports teams and donated countless meals to softball gatherings.

Elizabeth Berumen has been a regular at the Mexicano Grille and Bar since it opened and remembers how José and Marcos were immediately on board when she and her husband asked if they would be willing to donate some meals for a youth league luncheon. The brothers went above and beyond, making food donations for years afterwards to the league as well as continuing to sponsor many Jarrell ISD events. Elizabeth says, “They’ve been wonderful for our community and school. I feel like everyone is doing a great job in turning it right back and giving them support.”

Mexicano Grille & Bar Exterior

When Elizabeth Berumen's daughter left her phone at the eatery a few years ago, they were told the phone had been found, only to find out the next day that the staff couldn’t find it after all. José got right on it, she says, and two hours later she was told one of the employees had been fired for stealing the phone. It was this incident that persuaded her to appreciate the León brothers’ business ethics as much as their food.

“I was impressed with their standards, that they’re not going to have people who work for them who are like that,” Elizabeth says. “I would ask that the community recognize, if they don’t already, how much José and Marcos do for us and that we continue to support them. It’s one thing to have a successful business in your town, but it’s a whole other thing when time after time they will drop everything and do whatever you need to support you, even at their own expense. I tell José time and time again, ‘You guys have no idea how much we appreciate y’all. You’ve been the best thing that’s ever happened to Jarrell.’ ”

Mexicano Grille and Bar

mexicanogrillejarrell.net 512-746-5262 205 Sonterra Blvd, Jarrell

Taco-Tex & Micheladas

512-872-5868 11720 S IH 35 Service Rd Suite 900, Jarrell

The Right Professional. The Perfect Fit.

A Perfect Fit means a trusted advisor knowledgeable in every facet of Central Texas real estate. It means someone who is thorough with impeccable follow through and communication. It means someone who puts your needs rst and is simply passionate about helping people achieve their goals.

From the Ground Up

Lara’s stellar service is grounded in experience gleaned from years and years working in the home building industry, which has provided a deep understanding of land, construction, marketing, and nancing. She has an amazing knowledge of the communities, neighborhoods, and property values. Ask her clients and they describe a professional who is thorough, an excellent communicator, and someone who cares deeply about helping others.

Texas Licensed Realtor

254-228-9870

lara.ingalsbe@outlook.com LaraIngalsbe.com