Gastonia's Viva Tequis owner Francisco Montes still enjoys work after decades in business

After owning a restaurant for 20 years on Gastonia's Main Avenue, Francisco Montes still looks forward to going into work.

"I really enjoy meeting so many different people," said Montes, who owns and operates Viva Tequis, which serves Mexican streetstyle tacos, burritos, quesadillas and salads.

Montes, 52, was born in Jalisco, Mexico, and moved to California with his family in the 1980s around age 8.

At age 15, he started working with his older brother, José Luis Montes, who managed a Mexican restaurant in Marietta, Georgia.

"At first, I was just washing dishes and then eventually I started cooking and bussing tables," Montes said.

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He credits his brother with helping lead to his success in a business known as challenging.

"He's such a people person," Montes said. "He would always be on the floor of the restaurant, talking to people and finding out what they liked."

Montes started his first restaurant, then known as Tequila’s Mexican Grill and Taqueria, on Main Avenue more than 20 years ago. Shortly after, he opened another Tequila's on Union Road and another location in Mooresville.

In the summer of 2016, Montes closed Tequila's on Main Avenue, believing the restaurant located in a 114-year-old building needed a drastic makeover. After about 18 months worth of remodeling work, Montes re-opened the restaurant in November 2017 with a new menu and new name.

Montes said he appreciates seeing his customers return.

"I love coming in and people tell me how happy they are to see me there because I can't be in the same place every day," Montes said.

Making customers happy isn't always the easiest task for Montes.

“The hard part can be everyone’s expectations sometimes,” Montes said. “Everyone has different taste buds, so you can’t please everyone.”

But restaurants have to adjust and be flexible to new ideas, he adds.

“If you don’t change things up, people are going to go to places closest to them or what they are familiar with,” Montes said.

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Managing the finances and business affairs are the most challenging parts about having his own restaurant, Montes says.

“It’s my least favorite part but it has to be done,” Montes said.

In his free time, he likes to cook new meals and spend time with his wife, Veronica, and their four children; Miranda, Sebastian, Raquel and Daniel.

Reach Janiya Winchester at 980-319-6819 or jwinchester@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: Viva Tequis owner Francisco Montes reaches almost 21 years of business