Today we’d like to introduce you to Jose Frias
Hi Jose, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Things couldn’t be more different today from our first day, March 6, 1964, when
My Abuelos Guillermo and Gloria Frias who are no longer with us, started Boca Chica Restaurante at 11 Cesar Chavez St in St. Paul. My Abuelos Gloria and Guillermo Frias started cooking that first day using pots and pans they received a wedding gift, and then worried tremendously as the first customer did not appear until 10:00p.m. that night. But the customers soon started rolling in as they created a foundation for
our ongoing success and growth when they committed to all scratch-made Mexican food, crafted in
traditional Mexican ways.
While the business grew, Gloria and Guillermo had four children — all have worked in the
restaurant over the years and continue to stay connected in a variety of ways. In the early
1980’s and into the 1990’s Alfredo (Fred), Steve and Cristela all worked at Boca Chica with Alfredo taking on the role of CEO. Steve eventually left the day-to-day operations to start his own
businesses. Fred continued as role of CEO, Accountant and general manager role and Cristela, the only daughter, got involved by helping on the weekends. By the early 2000’s it was time for the next generation to take charge and today as the third generation Myself Jose and My sister Jesie continue to grow the menu and services offered.
Boca Chica started with a small menu of traditional tacos, enchiladas and burritos. Today you
can find authentic hand-crafted tamales, mole, sopes, guisados, chile rellenos, seafood and
steaks made the Mexican way. The restaurant is open seven days a week and offers traditional
table service in the evenings, a lunch buffet on weekdays, and a brunch buffet on weekends.
You’ll find delicious dinner specials every weekend, margaritas made with house-made flavor
infusions and happy hour daily in the bar.
Myself Jose Frias started working at Boca Chica at 16 years old as a Host. I eventually decided to work outside the family business for a couple of years before my father Alfredo who had taken over for his parents in the 80’s, asked me and my sister to come help him manage and grow the family business. At the time we were in our early 20’s and didn’t have much experience other than just being around the business our whole life. We needed a lot of work to achieve the successes of the generations before us and we were fortunate enough to be able to learn from the two generations before their secret to success was lost . Most people wouldn’t think of putting such young faces as the front of their business but my father didn’t have many options as he was losing his eye site from a degenerate eye disease and he knew he could no longer see his workers, customers and work the floor as his mobility slowed so he turned to us to be his eyes as he felt Family was needed for continued success. Alfredo was also our Accountant, That meant me and my sister had to spend countless hours learning how to be bookkeepers and to this day we still do all our accounting including payroll in house which I contribute to part of our success over the years. Unfortunately My father Fred passed 2018.
For the past 15 years I Jose, have overseen Boca Chica’s daily operations and our catering program, introducing new menu items and some of the newest margaritas. I have also has worked to expand the catering arm of the business into several corporate accounts like 3M, Thomson Rueters and US Bank, through a partnership with Compass USA. I have also started a real estate portfolio for our company and continue to become more diverse with our business ventures in hopes of sustaining business for our family for many generations to come.
One big component that I have always been a supporter of is our community and their support. Over the years I have been a member on local non profit boards such as the Cinco de mayo event committee, SPFH foundation and WSP youth Baseball Association all with the intention of supporting our local committee. Although I no longer serve on boards, I enjoy mentoring those who seek success as well as Coaching High School Baseball at Two Rivers.
Jesie, heads The Boca Chica Taco House our quick serve restaurant, located across the street and has overseen a complete system overhaul which has maximized our sales potential and bottom line as well as overseeing an interior renovation and additions to our menu items and fun seasonal specials.
We are now introducing the 4th generation into our family business. My Son Miguel, a recent college graduate has worked as a bartender, host and kitchen Cook and is now managing the Bar program and supervising the floor.
I’ll leave you with this:
“Boca Chica is more than just a restaurant. For us and for many of our loyal
customers, it is a tradition. The restaurant is a treasure and a blessing for the entire Frias family.
And in so many ways our customers are part of our family. We appreciate each and every
customer and are thankful to them for bringing us this far.”
-Jose Frias
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Me personally, I have seen two economic down turns and it was scary. Not knowing if you are going be open in a few months because times are tough is a devastating feeling especially when so many employees and customers are counting on you as well as our own well being. Covid of course was a moment of unknowns. I remember going home after they shut all restaurant down thinking this was it! I didn’t sleep well and worried so much for my family. but as I’ve been taught my whole life, work hard, don’t give up and try to be better everyday of your life, thus we pushed forward and today we are a stringer business then we were before.
Lastly, working with family can always be a struggle. Over the years we have had our blow ups but we never go to bed mad at each other and by the end of the night we have called or talked with each other and we move on with love. I contribute our Frias family’s love for each other as a reason for our success. To this day regardless of differences we all still talk and visit regularly.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Boca Chica Inc?
I think what I put in the first questions should answer all this
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
networking, family, friends and baseball are how I’ve achieved my success
Contact Info:
- Website: https://BocaChicaRestaurant.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bocachicamn
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bocachicastp
- Twitter: https://x.com/BocaChicaMN
