Owner, Los Reyes Mexican Restaurant
Words by Anna Lee Vaughn | Images by Justin Hunter
In the early 1990s, Carlos Pedraza and his brothers made the journey from Los Reyes, Michoacán, Mexico, to the United States, specifically Alabama. Initially residing in Tuscaloosa, they later moved to Jasper, where they immersed themselves in the local Mexican restaurant scene, honing their skills in the trade over the years.
In 2011, Carlos, Cesar, and Ignacio decided to venture into entrepreneurship by renting a building in Downtown Jasper, giving rise to the establishment of the Jasper location of Los Reyes Mexican Grill. Today, the trio proudly owns and manages two thriving Los Reyes locations, serving Jasper and Sumiton. Carlos works full-time at the Jasper location.
Reflecting on their journey into the restaurant business, Carlos shares, “It’s one of those things that’s just destiny. We fell into it. I never thought I would work in or own a restaurant, and it just fell into place. Now, we learn as we go.”
Carlos describes Los Reyes’ menu as a fusion of Tex-Mex and authentic Mexican cuisine, featuring favorites like burritos and quesadillas alongside spicier, authentic dishes such as carne asada and fajitas. The restaurant is actively working towards expanding its offerings of authentic Mexican dishes.
Carlos brings a valuable skill set to the business, having learned the accounting trade while living in Mexico. While he manages the financial aspects, his brother oversees the bar and kitchen operations.
“My favorite part is working with family. All my kids and my brother’s kids have worked at one of the locations at one point or another. We also meet a lot of people here and try to help the community however we can. We want to thank everyone in Walker County for their support. We enjoy serving people. We enjoy doing what we do. I’d also really like to thank all my employees because, without employees, we’re nothing. We’ve been blessed to have good core people from the start.”
As Carlos reflects on the decision to come to America, he shares, “We came to better ourselves. I came with a dream of one day owning a house and a vehicle. It was just my brothers and myself to start with, but now I’ve started my own family here. So, it has been a lot of hard work, but it pays off because now we’ve created a family here.” WL
