Ark Valley News - Tex-Mex restaurant set to open soon

Tex-Mex restaurant set to open soon
By Chris Strunk
Last Updated: November 12, 2015

Owners of Jerry's Tex-Mex Grill hope to open their new restaurant at Fifth and Meridian in Valley Center by the end of the month or the beginning of December.

"We're closer now than when we started," said co-owner Sandra Lopez.

While work is taking place inside the restaurant to get it ready, Lopez said the opening date will depend on when fire and health inspections can take place.

Lopez and her husband, Jerry Lopez, as well as the property's owner have been working on the building since August. It has been empty since Tucker's BBQ closed in June 2014.

Although Jerry's will specialize in Tex-Mex food, such as tacos, chile rellenos and fajitas, it also will serve American-style breakfast and dinner all day, including chicken-fried steak, pancakes and waffles.

"I'm hoping that people really like our cooking," Lopez said.

Maria Gonzalez, Lopez's mother-in-law, also is co-owner of the restaurant.

Lopez said her restaurant is not trying to compete with Tequila's on Main Street in Valley Center.

"It just depends on what people want," she said.

Lopez currently is a server at Felipe's in Wichita and works as a custodian for the Valley Center school district. She and her husband live in Park City.

Jerry Lopez owned a similar restaurant in Milton. It closed in 2014.

The couple has been in food service for several years.

Jerry had his eye on the Valley Center location for a while.

"The one in Milton was a little bigger, but it was in the country," Sandra said. "We see more traffic at the corner. We thought that would be a good location. Valley Center would definitely need something a little different."