Interview by Gainesville High School Junior and Abernathy Cochran intern Kate Willis
Meet Diego Covarrubias! Diego is the owner of Carniceria Tapatia on Browns Bridge Road in Gainesville. Diego has lived in Hall County for more than 20 years, he is married and the couple have two children.
Question: What inspired you or led you to your current career?
Answer: “When my family moved here from Chicago in 2000, we saw that there was a lack of good stores for our typically Hispanic clientele. My parents started the business 22 years ago, and I was inspired by their hard work to take over and run it myself.”
Q: What is your favorite restaurant in Hall County, and what do you love there?
A: “My favorite restaurant is the Atlanta Highway Seafood Market. I love their gumbo and egg rolls.”
Q: How long have you lived or worked in Hall County?
A: “I have lived and worked in Hall County since 2002.”
Q: What is your favorite thing to eat at your restaurant here?
A: “I like the steak tacos and the Carne Asada dish.”
Q: What is your favorite childhood memory?
A: “I had a great childhood in Chicago, and my best memories were when I was playing outside with my friends.”
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
A: “I really want to explore Mexico, which is where my parents are from. I don’t want to go anywhere else until I see all of the beautiful places there.”
Q: What is the first movie you remember seeing in a theater?
A: “‘Mortal Kombat.’”
Q: What advice would you give a crowd of people?
A: “No matter how hard life gets, keep going; that’s just how life is.”
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
A: “Travel.”
Q: What is your favorite music/ three bands you would like to see (dead or alive)?
A: “The Notorious B.I.G., Tupac, and Three 6 Mafia. I also love Banda music.”
Q: What local business makes you the most nostalgic about Hall County and why?
A: “Longstreet. My kids grew up eating it every morning and my wife loves it. I love the country fried steak and gravy.”
Q: Choosing anyone (past or present and a non-relative), with whom would you love to have lunch?
A: “I would want to have lunch with a successful businessman, somebody that really made it from the bottom.”
Q: What is your favorite thing about Hall County?
A: “It has a little bit of everything; you’re not too close to the city or the country.”
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 or 10 years?
A: “I see myself running other businesses in the restaurant and supermarket industry.”
Q: What is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
A: “I love to play basketball. I play in a league and the team I play for is called the Georgia Warriors.”
Q: What three words mean “Home” to you?
A: “Family. Loyalty. Food.”
Q: If you were cast into a major motion picture and had your choice of anyone to be your co-star, who would you choose
A: “I would most definitely choose Mark Wahlberg.”
Q: If you had a full-time staff member that was fully paid for, who would you choose?
A: “I would like a personal assistant.”
