Meet Christian Aguirre! He is part owner and manager of El Sombrero in Gainesville. Originally, Christian is from Peachtree City. He is married to Rocio and the couple lives in Flowery Branch. They have lived in Hall County for three years.

“My father is the founder of the company and then he started with another chain that he still owns,” Christian said. “In 1981, after being successful in College Park, someone mentioned to my father that there was a restaurant for sale in Gainesville.”
Ernesto Aquirre and childhood friend turned business partner, Arturro Guzman bought Dos Gringos (1984) on Thompson Bridge Road and that was the original El Sombrero.
“Originally, there were three brother-in-laws that opened the restaurant. They also went to Macon and Statesboro…there are 12 El Sombreros now,” he said. “I got involved because when you grow up in the business you’re constantly in the restaurant and I kind of took over, I have other brothers who own restaurants, as well.
“I moved to Macon in 2000 to run one of my father’s original El Sombrero’s, El Sombrero No. 2. Me and my older brother moved to Macon and after the first year my father handed us that restaurant, saying this is your one shot and either you make it or you break it. Luckily, me and my brother did our thing.”
Many of Christian’s cousins live and were raised in Gainesville and many are part of the family business.
“At about 10 years old we would come up every Sunday (to Lake Lanier)…eventually my dad and my uncle bought a lake house up in North Hall and they still have it…Gainesville was always the meeting point for us and we take family to heart and stay close to each other.”
We want to thank Christian for recently spending time with us and telling us more about his life and love of Hall County.
Question: What is one of your favorite things about Hall County?
Answer: “The lake, that’s my biggest memory I have growing up. At about 10 years old we would come up every Sunday…eventually my dad and my uncle bought a lake house up in North Hall and they still have it. When the weather was good we would come up and all the family would get together. Gainesville was always the meeting point for us and we take family to heart and stay close to each other.”
Q: What is your favorite restaurant in Hall County?
A: “I’d have to say I like going to Yellow Fin on the square and having a drink and appetizers. I am a big fan of taco stands and love those and they remind me of spending summers in Mexico, any of the places on Atlanta Highway remind me of those.”
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would you go?
A: “Europe, I’ve been wanting to go to Europe for a while to see Spain and travel back in time and see things that you learned in school, Athens, all that stuff. Go to Berlin and try all the beers.”
Q: What is the first movie you remember seeing in the theater?
A: “It would have to be ‘Toys’ with Robin Williams.”
Q: What are three of your favorite bands that you would want to see?
A: “U2, definitely an R&B guy, so I would definitely want to see Boys 2 Men and Bryan McKnight.”
Q: What advice would you give a crowd of people?
A: “Slow down and enjoy life. The way I’ve always seen it is, are you living life or just paying bills until you die. You have to stop and enjoy life; make memories and take chances!”
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
A: “I definitely want to travel, I’m a traveler. I want to at least want to go to every state.
Q: Where do you see yourself in five or 10 years?
A: “Definitely here. I live in Flowery Branch…but definitely here doing the same thing.”
Q: What three words mean “Home” to you?
A: “Family, comfort and security.”
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.