Taqueria Arandas is a chain of Mexican restaurants in

Greater Houston Greater Houston, designated by the Office of Management and Budget, United States Office of Management and Budget as Houston–Pasadena–The Woodlands, is the List of metropolitan statistical areas, fifth-most populous metropolitan statistical ...

Texas Texas ( , ; or ) is the most populous U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. It borders Louisiana to the east, Arkansas to the northeast, Oklahoma to the north, New Mexico to the we ...

. The first location opened in Houston's

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in 1981. The corporate headquarters is located in

Houston Houston ( ) is the List of cities in Texas by population, most populous city in the U.S. state of Texas and in the Southern United States. Located in Southeast Texas near Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, it is the county seat, seat of ...

. As of March 2014 the Taqueria Arandas chain makes $40 million per year. As of that month the chain has 44

taquerias A taco stand or taquería is a food stall, food cart or restaurant that specializes in tacos and other Mexican dishes. The food is typically prepared quickly and tends to be inexpensive. Many various ingredients may be used, and various taco s ...

, three Arandas Bakery, and one Ostionerias Arandas seafood restaurants.Horswell, Cindy.
Camarena, founder of Taqueria Arandas chain, dies
" ''

Houston Chronicle The ''Houston Chronicle'' is the largest daily newspaper in Houston, Houston, Texas, United States. it is the third-largest newspaper by Sunday circulation in the United States, behind only ''The New York Times'' and the ''Los Angeles Times''. ...

''. March 26, 2014. Retrieved on March 31, 2014. The menus show images of a church from his hometown in Mexico, and every restaurant has a photograph of

Jesus Christ Jesus (AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, and many Names and titles of Jesus in the New Testament, other names and titles, was a 1st-century Jewish preacher and religious leader. He is the Jesus in Chris ...

. These aspects reflect the religiousness of the founder.

History

Jose Camarena was born in the outskirts of Jesús María in the Los Altos region of

Jalisco Jalisco, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Jalisco, is one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, comprise the 32 Political divisions of Mexico, Federal Entities of Mexico. It is located in western Mexico and is bordered by s ...

Mexico Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country in North America. It is the northernmost country in Latin America, and borders the United States to the north, and Guatemala and Belize to the southeast; while having maritime boundar ...

. Camarena started a taqueria chain shortly after arriving in Houston in 1980. He had lived in Chicago for two prior years, learning about the operations of Mexican restaurants. According to Camarena, he used $5,000 to buy a taco truck and start his own business in Houston. He started a fast food Mexican restaurant because Houston had very few of them at the time.Jones, Gareth R. and Jennifer M. George. ''Contemporary Management''.

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, December 1, 2004. , 9780072860825. p
163
"Camarena decided in the early 1980s to move to Houston and open a restaurant. Camarena realized there were actually very few Mexican fast-food restaurants in the city, and that became the niche of his restaurant, Taqueria Arandas. The restaurant was so popular that Camarena was able to open seven more restaurants within 10 years and now sells Taqueria Arandas franchises. Taqueria Arandas now has 27 franchised Taquerias as well as 2 seafood restaurants and 4 Arandas bakeries." He had pawned most of his belongings so he could start the restaurant. The first Taqueria Arandas restaurant was on Irvington Boulevard. Judy Camarena, the second daughter of Jose Camarena, stated that the owners did not give much thought or time in making a unified approach to all restaurants because the chain "grew so fast".Moreno, Jenalia.
Taqueria Arandas founder's daughter, 24, is boss
" ''

''. December 3, 2006. Retrieved on March 31, 2014. The first bakery opened on Airline Drive in 1991. The first seafood restaurants followed. In 2004 Jose gave the management of the restaurants to Judy so he could concentrate in his other interests. In 2006 the chain was worth $42 million and had 36 taquerias, four bakeries, and two seafood restaurants. That year, both father and daughter lived in the same house in

Memorial A memorial is an object or place which serves as a focus for the memory or the commemoration of something, usually an influential, deceased person or a historical, tragic event. Popular forms of memorials include landmark objects such as home ...

. Jose Camarena died in March 2014.

References

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External links

Taqueria Arandas
Companies based in Houston Mexican-American culture in Houston Mexican restaurants in Texas

History

See also

References

External links