Meet Angel Retana! Angel is the owner of several local eateries including Fajitas,  Gainesville Seafood Market and El Carreton in Hall County. 
Angel moved to New York City from Mexcio City when he was 13 years old and when he moved a few years later to Atlanta he began working in restaurants. He washed dishes at L & M Seafood in high school, where he began learning the restaurant industry.
“One of the first jobs I had was at L & M Seafood in Atlanta, right across from Lenox Mall. When I left my third shift…at night, I would go to school in the morning, so they fired me because I would fall asleep. That’s the only time I was fired in my life,” Angel said. “I got married, I was 20 and my wife was 19 and she used to work for a guy that owned a lot of restaurants and used to play in Gainesville soccer leagues and he said there were a lot of Hispanics in the area. I had never heard of Gainesville and the first time I came to Gainesville, I went up Buford Highway and ended up right where the taco stand is, my first business, at El Carreton.”
Angel opened El Carreton 25 years ago with just a couple hundred dollars.
“I come from Mexico City and in Mexico City there are millions and millions of people and they have these metal containers where they serve food, and I said that’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to get a little trailer and convert it to a kitchen,” he said. “Long story short, I went to the city and the city thought I was crazy…somehow or another they gave me a permit. Larry Brown, I believe, was the city manager back then and they had to get a new permit because their wasn’t a business like this. Before taco trucks were popular, I had a taco truck.”
Angel is married and has five children, ages 4 to 15 years old. When he isn’t working at one of his restaurants, Angel runs endurance races. 
“One thing I want to do is the 200 mile race,” he said.
Next up for Angel is a new soccer sports bar opening soon on Hospital Drive in Gainesville.
We want to thank Angel for talking with us recently and telling us more about his life and love of Hall County!
Question: Who is the most interesting person that you have met in Hall County?
Answer: “Dan Summer. He passed away, he has lots of properties in Gainesville and was a fantastic guy, straight shooter and always had open arms.”
Q: What is your favorite restaurant in Hall County?
A: “2 Dog Cafe, it’s different and trendy…typically we cook at home.”
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be? And why?
A: “I would go to China and learn something. I would want to go to the city and it is just so technologically ahead it be interesting to see everything there.”
Q: What is your favorite movie?
A: “‘The Godfather.’”
Q: What advice would you give a crowd of people?
A: “Do what you love.”
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
A: “So, I am a runner, I’ve done Iron Man’s and 100 mile races, that was on my bucket list and I’ve done it. There’s a 200 mile race, that I would want do.”
Q: What is favorite music/ three bands you would like to see(dead or alive)?
A: “I love all music. I would want to see Bon Jovi, Nirvana, and Guns ‘N’ Roses.”
Q: What is favorite thing or something unique about Hall County?
A: “The trendiness now and the changes, I like that everything is so close and the family atmosphere.”
Q: Where do you see yourself in five or 10 years?
A: “Working.”
Q: (Even for friends and family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
A: “I like doing endurance sports.”
Q:What are three words that come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
A: “Warm, family and safety.”
Fajitas: 1210 Thompson Bridge Road, Gainesville.
El Carreton: 608 Atlanta Highway, Gainesville.
Gainesville Seafood Market: 1403 Atlanta Highway, Gainesville.
Interview by Abernathy Cochran Real Estate Group Intern Tricia Cumiskey
The Faces of Hall County is a project to showcase the amazing people that live or work in our community. If you would like to nominate an interesting person to be featured please email babernathy@gonorton.com.