Miguel Sandoval, owner of Carmelo’s Mexican Grill in Sugar Land, offers diners a multitude of traditional and Tex-Mex dishes, ranging from burritos to quesadillas, enchiladas and tamales.

“We are a family restaurant with family recipes,” Sandoval said.

Carmelo’s also offers breakfast tacos all day long, which Sandoval said are a favorite among his customers.

As a young boy, Sandoval dreamed of owning his own business.

Sandoval started working at a young age in his hometown of Monterrey, Mexico. At 9, he was running the cash register and stocking shelves in a liquor store near his home. Sandoval said he would work in the store every morning before school and each evening afterward. He even opened the shop himself each morning and got it ready for the owner.

Sandoval worked in restaurants for over 20 years, starting as a busboy and moving up to line cook and then manager.

“[This was my] last chance to try to see if I [could] make it on my own, do it my own way,” Sandoval said.   

Today, Sandoval works alongside his own children in his family-owned and -run restaurant, his youngsters helping to wait and bus tables. Sandoval opened Carmelo’s 10 years ago, investing his life savings in what has become a community staple on Hwy. 90 at the Grand Parkway.

Sandoval said it took about three years before Carmelo’s made a profit. The day of its grand opening, he made 200 tacos and passed them out for free around the community. For the first six months he was in business, Sandoval kept his restaurant open from 6 a.m. until midnight or even later, just to get as many people in the doors as possible.

“[That was] the hardest part,” he said. “[I was] just trying to make it. Some days, I would sleep only four hours, go home and come back. [Having a business] was always my dream. I like serving people.”