Taqueria Arandas

Taqueria Arandas is a chain of Mexican restaurants in Greater Houston, Texas. The corporate headquarters is located in Houston.[1]

The original location of Taqueria Arandas, which opened on Irvington Drive in Houston in the early 1980s.

As of March 2014 the Taqueria Arandas chain makes $40 million per year. As of that month the chain has 44 taquerias, three Arandas Bakery, and one Ostionerias Arandas seafood restaurants.[2]

The menus show images of a church from his hometown in Mexico, and every restaurant has a photograph of Jesus Christ. These aspects reflect the religiousness of the founder.[2]

History

Jose Camarena was born in the outskirts of Jesús María in the Los Altos region of Jalisco, Mexico.[3] Camarena started a taqueria chain after arriving in Houston around 1981. 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.[2] He started a fast food Mexican restaurant because Houston had very few of them at the time.[4] He had pawned most of his belongings so he could start the restaurant.[2]

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".[5] The first bakery opened on Airline Drive in 1991. The first seafood restaurants followed.[2]

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.[5]

Jose Camarena died in March 2014.[2]

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See also
  • History of the Mexican-Americans in Houston
  • Tex-Mex in Houston

References
  1. "Win a food gift basket courtesy of Goya On Mother’s Day 2010" (Archive). Taqueria Arandas. Retrieved on March 31, 2014. "2525 North Loop West suite 250"
  2. Horswell, Cindy. "Camarena, founder of Taqueria Arandas chain, dies." Houston Chronicle. March 26, 2014. Retrieved on March 31, 2014.
  3. "Jose Camarena" (Archive). Houston Chronicle obituaries. Retrieved on May 1, 2014.
  4. Jones, Gareth R. and Jennifer M. George. Contemporary Management. McGraw-Hill School Education Group, December 1, 2004. ISBN 0072860820, 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."
  5. Moreno, Jenalia. "Taqueria Arandas founder's daughter, 24, is boss." Houston Chronicle. December 3, 2006. Retrieved on March 31, 2014.
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