Meet Your Neighbor: Couple turn banquet hall into community hub
FREMONT - Growing up in Chicago, Victor Jimenez learned not only to cook, but he also learned to manage the complicated inner workings of the restaurant business. His first job was at a Mexican restaurant, and, while still a young man, he worked at the El Famous Burrito chain. He worked at or owned restaurants, taquerias and banquet halls in Sandusky, Lorain, Norwalk and Indianapolis before opening, to the gratitude of hundreds of locals, Casa Fiesta in Fremont.
From Casa Fiesta to a banquet hall
Then, in August, 2021, Victor and his wife, Lorena Jimenez, walked across the street from Casa Fiesta and purchased a banquet hall, renaming it The Victor’s Event Center. Since Victor and Lorena took over ownership of the facility, it has grown from simply being a rental hall for weddings, meetings, luncheons and baby showers. It has — through Victor and Lorena’s hard work, compassion and connection — become a community center.
“When the priest blessed this place, he told us to use it for the community,” Victor said.
The Victor’s Event Center has become a favored meeting place for local businesses and organizations. In the past few months, it has been rented for a St. Joseph's Benefit, a Fraternal Order of Police comedy show, and a Great Lakes Community Action Partnership holiday party. Victor’s offers off-site catering service, and it rents the hall for everything from gender reveal parties to quinceañeras.
“The possibilities are endless. We say no event is too big or too small,” Victor said.
Food can vary from Mexican to Italian and prime rib dinners
The much-loved Mexican food served at Casa Fiesta is available for events at Victor’s, but the Jimenezes are not limited to Hispanic options. Lorena is well-known for her Italian fare, including fettucine alfredo and lasagna, and the couple offer a variety of options, from simple sandwich lunches to elegant prime rib dinners.
At the Nov. 14 Fremont Women’s Connection luncheon, Lorena served a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, including turkey, green bean casserole and homemade stuffing. For the group’s Christmas luncheon, she will serve baked ham.
Victor and Lorena’s extensive culinary skills give them the freedom to create custom menus for their clients. They do not have a set catering menu. They create a menu based on the wishes of each client.
“We talk to every customer and see what they like,” Victor said. “We have never said no of anything asked of us.”
Renting the facility can come with food or do it yourself kitchen
Clients have the option of renting the facility and utilizing The Victor’s large kitchen to prepare their own food for their event.
“I love when families use our kitchen,” Lorena said.
In their 12 years as owners of Casa Fiesta and their two years owning The Victors, the Jimenezes have become examples of Hispanic success and leadership in Fremont, but they simply see themselves as a small part of the large Hispanic impact in the community.
“We’re just getting the job done,” Victor said. “Fremont is loaded with examples of an incredibly beautiful, thriving Hispanic community. We’re just building on those roots. If this is a train, we caught the bullet train.”
The Chamber of Commerce of Sandusky County will host a ribbon-cutting for The Victors Event Center on Nov. 21 at noon. The public is invited. The Victors is at 2270 Hayes Ave. in Fremont. For more information, call 419-333-0045 or visit The Victors Event Center Facebook page.
Contact correspondent Sheri Trusty at sheritrusty4@gmail.com.
This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Meet Your Neighbor: Couple turn banquet hall into community hub
