By Michelle James
Since moving to southern West Virginia from San Jose, Mexico, in 1992, Juan Solis’ family has opened successful restaurants not only in West Virginia but in New York and Ohio as well.
Solis says he is hoping his family’s new business venture, El Rancho Grande, experiences the same success.
The restaurant, which is owned by Solis’ father Jose and is located in Beckley Crossing in the old location of China Gate, opened in November.
Customers familiar with the layout of the Chinese restaurant, however, might not recognize the inside of the building now as Solis, the restaurant’s manager, said most everything has been changed.
Solis’ brother Rigo painted the walls a bright festive color and with original Mexican art on the walls and traditional Mexican music playing lightly throughout the restaurant, Solis said he believes the restaurant offers a different look and vibe for its customers.
“Pretty much everything you see, we brought it here from Mexico,” he said.
Solis says everything in the kitchen is new as well.
Although much of the restaurant’s interior is new, Solis says the waitstaff is not and Solis says he takes pride in the service customers receive.
“We have an experienced staff,” he said. “They all have restaurant experience.”
In addition to good customer service, Solis says with items such as steak and shrimp, the restaurant’s menu provides more food choices than most Mexican restaurants.
“When you go to a Mexican restaurant, you don’t see much of that, so we’re just trying to do something different,” he said. “We just want to give people more choices.”
Although Solis says the restaurant has attracted a lot of customers since it opened in November, he says he looks for it to grow as more people learn of it.
“All of the people who have come here go home happy, and we already have customers who come three or four times a week,” he said.
“We are doing well, but I think a lot of people don’t know we’re here yet,” he said. “Once people know we’re here, I think we will do a lot better.”
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El Rancho Grande is open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday from noon to 10:30 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 9:30 p.m.
Solis said tables for large parties can be reserved by calling 252-2550.
— E-mail: mjames@register-herald.com
