El Sol Mexican Restaurant

Alvaro Munoz started working in a restaurant when he was 18 years old, with the dream of someday opening his own.

That dream came true in October 2013 when he opened El Sol, an authentic Mexican restaurant at 1105 Broadway in Cape Girardeau.

Munoz says several things make his restaurant unique.

"People like the old building that we're in and the decor," he says. "We also offer a lot of different dishes, as well as our tableside [made fresh] signature guacamole."

The restaurant offers indoor and outdoor seating as well as a bar area in the back.

Munoz says his favorite thing about his work is the customers.

"I like talking to our regular customers and seeing people come in and enjoy it," he says. "It makes me feel like I'm doing something right."

A big expansion is planned for El Sol, and it should be completed within a month.

"We're turning the second floor into a banquet room for meetings and parties," says Munoz.

This will be a new business venture for him.

"We'll cater the food upstairs and serve it buffet style," he says.

Munoz believes the key to his success is simple: "We offer good food and good service."

Advertising and social media are helping El Sol's customer base grow even more.

"More people are finding out about us through our ads and through Facebook," says Munoz. "We're constantly having new customers come in who have never been in before. They try it and they like it, so hopefully, they will come back."