Downtown Dallas taco shop struggling

DALLAS — When 62-year-old Paul Alaniz first met his spouse of 23 years, Mary Alaniz, he knew a few weeks into courting he wished to marry her.

The now 57-year-old Mary Alaniz wasn’t able to fall in love as a result of she was lately divorced when she and Paul first met. Nevertheless, she vividly remembers the magnetic mutual attraction she and her now husband shared early of their relationship.

“That loopy attraction continues to be there,” she mentioned. “We’ve got so much in frequent, and we get alongside nice.” 

One factor the couple has in frequent is an entrepreneur spirit. In November 2019, they jumped on the alternative to buy a 14-year-old profitable taco store named Taco Barracho in downtown Dallas from a good friend. They re-named the restaurant to The Native Taco and had been excited to be the homeowners of a restaurant that acquired a lot visitors.

“The primary couple of months had been nice,” mentioned Paul Alaniz.

The couple remembers lengthy traces that ran out each of the restaurant’s doorways throughout the day by day lunch hour rush.

“The primary drive of the enterprise was the lunch crowd,” mentioned Paul Alaniz. “They had been all workplace employees that will simply stroll in right here and fall in love with our meals.”

However that visitors wouldn’t final for lengthy. In March 2020, after three months of working beneath their possession, the restaurant misplaced enterprise in a single day due to the beginning of the worldwide pandemic. COVID shattered the couple’s desires of monetary freedom.

“The pandemic shutdown turned downtown Dallas right into a ghost city for enterprise,” mentioned Paul Alaniz.

Plenty of the companies occupying downtown buildings haven’t returned to full workplace attendance. Eating places like The Native Taco are feeling the ache.

“From November of 2019 via early March of 2020, we had been making about $1,200 between 11 a.m. and a pair of p.m.,” mentioned Mary Alaniz. “If we might do this day by day, we’d be OK.”

However they’re not OK. Virtually three years for the reason that begin of the pandemic, their day by day gross sales are averaging solely about $600. Most Tuesdays, they present up an hour early to make a pair dozen of breakfast tacos for an workplace in downtown.

“They normally order about 48,” mentioned Paul Alaniz. “They’re a fantastic common buyer. I believe they’re an accounting agency.” 

Homeowners of The Native Taco Paul and Mary Alaniz restaurant hand an order of 48 breakfast tacos to buyer Rachael Kay. (Spectrum Information 1/Lupe Zapata)

“The sauces listed below are scrumptious,” mentioned buyer Rachel Kay, who picked as much as order for her co-workers. “They not solely have nice sauce, the tacos aren’t too heavy, not too gentle. It’s a fantastic breakfast taco!”

Although they make good meals, enterprise hasn’t been good. The order Kay picked up solely occurs as soon as per week. Kay mentioned her workplace is simply a few blocks away from the restaurant and it hasn’t returned to full capability.

“We’re at about 50%, loads of us are nonetheless working from dwelling since we now have the choice,” mentioned Kay.

When a lot of the company companies working out of downtown Dallas places of work resorted to letting their workers work at home, the Alanizs had been afraid they must shut down within the early months of the pandemic.

“DART saved us,” mentioned Paul Alaniz. “If it weren’t for the massive orders they made day by day, we might have in all probability needed to shut down.”

The Dallas Space Speedy Transit’s (DART) headquarters constructing at 1401 Pacific Ave. is subsequent to Akard Station. The station, which serves DART Rail Pink, Blue, Inexperienced and Orange traces, is throughout the road from The Native Taco.

“They ordered two tacos for each important employee at their location,” mentioned Paul Alaniz. “They gave us that enterprise for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It was an enormous order, and it actually helped us keep open at first.”

In October 2020, the couple had a grand opening. A Fb put up in all capital letters learn, “FREE MARGARITAS, BYOB, DJ RIGHTEOUS WILL BE PERFORMING COME CHECK US OUT, BEST TACOS IN ALL OF DOWNTOWN.”

They waited for the visitors to select again up, however the lack of enterprise has them behind in payments placing them in debt. They’re at present contemplating promoting their dwelling to assist from going bankrupt.

“You bought to try to keep constructive on a regular basis otherwise you’re actually doomed,” mentioned Paul Alaniz. “It’s not all the time straightforward however we’re making an attempt.” 

Spectrum Information 1 human curiosity reporter Lupe Zapata chats with homeowners of The Native Taco Paul and Mary Alaniz, whose downtown Dallas restaurant has struggled to match pre-pandemic enterprise. (Spectrum Information 1/Lupe Zapata)

Based on Mary Alaniz, she and her husband have one thing particular that retains them going.

“While you’re struggling and all the pieces is hard, the factor that you simply cling to is the love that you’ve got from each other,” she mentioned. “I imply, I’ve already informed him he’s not allowed to divorce me. I’ll simply refuse.”

Clients like Kay have informed the couple the restaurant could be missed if they’ve to shut the store.

“So if you happen to’re in downtown Dallas and desire a good native taco, Paul and Mary welcome the love,” mentioned Kay.

In case you have an attention-grabbing story, or a problem you’d prefer to see lined, tell us about it.   

Share your concepts with human curiosity reporter Lupe Zapata by emailing him at Lupe.Zapata@Constitution.com