Meet Jose Figueroa! Twenty six years ago Jose moved to the United States with big hopes and dreams of being successful.“I started working at El Maguey on Browns Bridge Road about 26 year ago. I started as a part timer than the owners opened up for partners and I owned 25 percent of the restaurant. Two years later they decided to sell the whole thing to me,” he said.
Today, El Maguey on Limestone Parkway is a staple for Hall County diners. We want to thank Jose for letting us know more about him and his love for Hall County.
Question: What inspired you or led you to your current career?
Answer: “When I first moved to the U.S. I was just looking for a job, not exactly in the restaurant business. Most of my family worked in restaurants and that’s what inspired me to do it. I decided to stay in it because I liked it.”
Q: What is your favorite restaurant in Hall County, and what do you love there?
A: “I think my favorite restaurant is Longhorn, me and my wife go there once a week at least. I love steak there.”
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in Hall County?
A: “The Gov. Nathan Deal. He eats here every once and a while and it’s nice to know that whenever he gets to choose a Mexican restaurant in Gainesville he chooses mine.”
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be? And why?
A: “Anywhere with the beach, the Atlantic, Pacific, or the Gulf Coast it doesn’t matter just somewhere with the beach.”
Q: What is your favorite movie or what is the first movie you remember seeing in a theater?
A: “My family is my favorite movie.”
Q: What advice would you give a crowd of people?
A: “Always look out for your family.”
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
A: “Get to retirement and make sure my family has nothing to worry about. Just as long as I’m with my wife and we’re happy, then everything is all right.”
Q: What is your favorite music/ three bands you would like to see (dead or alive)?
A: “ I like all kinds of music, The Beatles, Kenny Chesney, I’ve seen him a few times , and my favorite Mexican music is Mexican soft rock. My favorite group has to be Manà.”
Q: What current/ former local business makes you the most nostalgic about Hall County?
A: “El Maguey, it’s what brought me here.”
Q: Choosing anyone alive and a non-relative: with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? Where in Hall County would you have lunch?
A: “The governor again, I wish I could have a sit down lunch with him at El Maguey.”
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about Hall County?
A: “The people, I have met many people have always been so nice and always welcoming.”
Q: Where do you see yourself in five or 10 years?
A: “Maybe opening another restaurant and have my family closer together.”
Q: What are three words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
A: “Everything related to the word home to me is family. Family is the most important thing to me.”
The Faces of Hall County is a project to showcase the amazing people that live or work in our community. If you would like to nominate an interesting person to be featured please email babernathy@gonorton.com.
