Interview by Abernathy Cochran intern and Gainesville High senior Grady Vardeman
Question: What inspired you or led you to your current career?
Answer: “I’ve always loved food and always fascinated by the restaurant business. So opening my restaurant has always been a dream and now it’s finally happening. I own two Senior Fiestas this one in Gainesville and the other in Dawsonville. This one in Gainesville has been open for five years and the other for two.”
Q: What is your favorite thing to eat at Senior Fiesta?
A: “I think our tacos really stand out and it seems to be a favorite from the restaurant, also they are very authentic.”
Q: How long have you lived or worked in Hall County?
A: “I’ve lived here for 29 years, since I was two years old. I went to Enota, Gainesville Middle and graduated from Gainesville High.”
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be? And why?
A: “Italy, I’ve always wanted to go there.”
Q: What is your favorite movie?
A: “’Fences’ with Denzel Washington is my favorite.”
Q: What advice would you give a crowd of people?
A: “Always look at your surroundings.”
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
A: “I want to travel more, I’d like to go to Italy as I said earlier, but I’d really like to see Spain.”
Q: What current or local business makes you the most nostalgic about Hall County?
A: “In-Between Deli on Green Street.”
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about Hall County?
A: “We have everything close by, the mountains, Lake Lanier, hour trip to Atlanta. Gainesville is very convenient to live in, also Gainesville is so fun to live in because you can almost experience every season in a span of a week.”
Q: Where do you see yourself in five or 10 years?
A: “I love what I’m doing right now, so exactly what I’m doing. And hopefully longer than 10 years as well.”
Q: What is something interesting that most people don’t know about you and Senior Fiesta?
A: “I love to cook and try to get as creative with it as I can. Some of the stuff I’ve invented is actually on the menu. Something that people might not know about Senior Fiesta is that everything we make is made from scratch, it’s very traditional how we cook here. For example, we make our rice several times a day to make sure it’s always fresh and we don’t pre-cook anything. I think that’s what makes us stand out as a Mexican restaurant because not a lot of places do that. I’m also here seven days a week, whether that’s in the kitchen or helping around the restaurant, I’m always here.”
Q: What three words or phrases that come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
A: “Relax, Family, and Love.”
