El Torero

Year established: 1993

Product or service offered: Family owned Mexican cuisine/bar

Number of employees: 70-plus

Location: Cape Girardeau, Jackson, Perryvile and Ste. Genevieve

Owners: Antonio Trejo and Ricardo Trejo

What is your vision for your business and/or your industry in 2012?

Antonio Trejo

Antonio Trejo, owner: To continue providing authentic Mexican food with great atmosphere, service and value. We plan to remodel the Cape location, including a drive-through window and menu board, as well as the Ste. Genevieve location this year. We are adding new dishes to our menu and will increase our store locations.

Give us an example or two of an idea that came to fruition in the last couple of years, and how has that helped your consumers or clients?

AT: Customers can try our new and existing items at a 15 percent discount off our already low prices by using our coupons each Wednesday in the Southeast Missourian. They can call 573-651-3277 for catering and also purchase gift cards which do not expire or loose their value with time.

How do you encourage teamwork at your place of work?

AT: Our people have always worked as a team and are happy to be working to support their families. They know if they work hard, they will make more money. If they don't work, they don't make any money.

What do you think is the community's biggest asset from a business perspective?

AT: It's people are the community's biggest asset. Our customers have made our business what it is today. They have supported us over the years as our business grew. They are more than customers. They are our friends.

What are some lessons that you learned at a young age that still apply in your business philosophy today?

AT: I came to America and went to work at a very young age. We worked very long, hard hours and did not have very good living conditions. We still work very long hours but things have improved.