Taco shop a good fit for downtown

When Janna Rodriguez and Oscar Torres opened a small restaurant in downtown Merced 4½ years ago, a lot of people thought they would fail.

But J & R Tacos, owned by Rodriguez and Torres, has proven to be more than another Mexican restaurant. The little shop is filled with customers many nights and was honored this year as small business of the year by the City of Merced Economic Development Advisory Committee.

"I had never opened a restaurant when we started," Rodriguez said. "I had no clue."

Rodriguez had spent her time in college getting a bachelor's degree in math and a second bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering.

Then Rodriguez met Torres. The two were introduced when Torres' brother and Rodriguez' sister got married.

"He was cooking at a party and I told him it was delicious," Rodriguez said.

Torres had owned and operated restaurants in the past, but when his parents died, he decided he didn't want anything to do with the restaurant business.

"It reminded him of his mom," Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez talked with Torres, and they decided to open their taco shop.

At the time they were looking for a location in downtown Merced, they were told the area where they wanted to be was open only to franchises.

"We were really persistent," Rodriguez said.

That persistence paid off. Now J & R Tacos often has artists and musicians in the little shop, and Rodriguez said the menu is important to them.

"We use meat we buy locally, and local vegetables," she said.

"We don't precook anything, and we try to use organic when we can. We want to show our customers they can eat healthy without spending a lot of money."

Because of the support of the community, J & R Tacos has become one of the most popular restaurants downtown.

"Our main idea wasn't to open a restaurant and get rich," Rodriguez said. "Our idea was open a place and promote downtown Merced."

If awards are any indication, Torres and Rodriguez have met their goal.

Reporter Carol Reiter can be reached at (209) 385-2486 or creiter@mercedsun-star.com.