Juanito’s Mexican Restaurant started because of a mother’s dream for her children. Owner Stephanie Zavala became involved in the restaurant business at 13 with her brother Juan. She began working as a busgirl and worked her way up to waitress. She and her brother got their start at Gregory’s—the restaurant the siblings and their mother, Mary Helen, would one day buy and convert to Juanito’s. Without Mary Helen the siblings would not have Juanito’s, Stephanie said. “She saw that we had the passion for serving people,” Stephanie said. The family opened Juanito’s, named after Stephanie’s brother, in 1990 in the Sherwood Plaza strip center. In 1993 they moved from the strip center and built the standalone restaurant on Grand Boulevard. While the restaurant is family-owned, the staff has become like family as well, Stephanie said. Several staff members started as busboys or girls and were promoted, much like Stephanie. Most of the staff has worked  in the business for almost 20 years or longer, she said. “From the business aspect the realization is they are the ones that are the front of your business. Treat them right, they treat your customers right, and you get treated right,” Stephanie said. “A lot of bosses see themselves as the main person, and that’s the way it is, but that’s not true. Your employees are the main people.” The low turnover in staff has helped the recipes remain the same as they were since the restaurant was Gregory’s, including the popular cheese enchiladas, Stephanie said. “I think we started out being known as having the best enchiladas around,” Stephanie said. “We had people say, ‘we come here for the enchiladas.’” Over time the restaurant has added other dishes, including its carne guisada, or Mexican-style beef tips with gravy. Keeping the recipes and atmosphere consistent over time has helped maintain a loyal clientele, Stephanie said. “We do appreciate and rely a lot on our loyal customers. It’s hard to go against the big boys. We have to do what we can do to keep it with a more personal touch,” Stephanie said.