Today we’d like to introduce you to Orocia Morales.
Orocia, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
The opportunity came from an unexpected but very special place. A close family friend gave us the chance to take over Acapulco. It was a small restaurant that had previously been a pizza shop. We saw an opportunity to turn four walls into a little piece of Mexico.
It started small, for our customers who were there since the beginning know we only had four tables to dine in. It was mostly a carryout restaurant. Like many small family businesses, our first employees weren’t strangers. They were our children, relatives, and family members willing to help whenever needed.
We brought our everyday meals and style to a different location. It felt like home, since home is where the kitchen is. These meals were past down by my late mother, Reyna, who was the master behind these great recipes. The recipes carried memories and traditions with them. Bringing those dishes to our customers allowed us to share a piece of our family and heritage. That is what we still hope to do when they walk through the doors of Acapulco.
A couple years later, we were given the chance to take over the bar that was next to us. Which then converted the name to Acapulco Restaurant and Bar. The support of our growing and dedicated customer base gave us the confidence to take this big step.
We have never taken the growth of Acapulco for granted.
Every customer who came for a meal, brought their family, celebrated milestones and special occasions with us, or even just came for a cold beer became part of our story.
Acapulco will always be our miracle. My husband and I came to the US to follow that American dream and we achieved what seemed impossible at the time.
Along the way it wasn’t about owning a restaurant anymore. It was about creating something that our children would be proud of and preserving the traditions we brought with us from Mexico and sharing them with a community we now call home.
Acapulco Is our family’s story, served one plate at a time.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Our biggest obstacle has always been migrating to the US. We came to a country where we didn’t speak one ounce of english, we had no idea on how the system worked. We were running on prayers and possibility.
Opening a restaurant in general was challenge for us in the beginning. It required more than just cooking food and providing great customer service. It took a lot of planning, money, time, relationships, and willingness to keep going when things didn’t go our way. This journey hasn’t been perfect but that is what makes putting all our love and hard work into it much more meaningful.
We didn’t anticipate how many sacrifices we had to make an one of them being our children. They were reaching milestones, making memories, and growing while my husband and I were working towards building something for our family. We had to remind ourselves that we weren’t just building a business, we were building a future for them.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Acapulco Restaurant and Bar?
Acapulco Restaurant and Bar is a family-owned restaurant in Raritan, New Jersey, and for the past 11 years, our family has had the privilege of sharing our love of traditional Mexican food with our community.
For us, Acapulco is much more than a restaurant. It is something our family has built together- a place where our love for Mexican culture, food, and family comes together.
We are known for our traditional Mexican-style food, including tacos, tortas, enchiladas, mole, homemade salsas, and guacamole. These dishes are special to us because they represent the flavors and traditions that make Mexican cuisine so meaningful. We believe that food has a way of bringing people together and we love seeing our customers enjoy the dishes that we are so proud to serve.
One of the things that makes Acapulco so special is the relationship we have with our customers. Over 11 years, we have watched customers come in as individuals and families and, over time become familiar faces who feel like part of our extended family. We are proud that our restaurant has become part of the Raritan community. Small businesses are built one customer and one relationship at a time, and we are incredibly grateful to everyone who has supported us throughout our journey. Our customers loyalty and support have allowed us to continue doing what we love and sharing our food and culture with the community.
What we want people to know about Acapulco is that there is a lot of heart behind everything we do. When you come to our restaurant, we want you to experience more than just a meal. We want you to experience traditional Mexican flavors, warm hospitality, and the feeling of being welcomed into our home.
Our hope is to continue sharing our food, our traditions, and our passion with Raritan and the surrounding communities for many years to come.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
I think the most important quality is dedication. For 11 years, our family has worked hard to stay true to our food, our Mexican traditions, and our customers.
We also believe in consistency and treating everyone who walks through our doors like family. Our customers have supported us throughout the years and that motivates us to keep doing what we love and giving them the best experience we can.
For us, Acapulco is truly a family effort. We are proud of what we have built together and grateful that our family has been able to share our passion for Mexican food with the community.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acapulcoraritannj/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/acapulcoraritannj
