Press - Gringos Tex-Mex

Gringo’s Promotions

Nevaeh Davis — Thu, 11 Jan 2024 18:09:57 +0000

Gringo’s Celebrates 31-Years with Promotions Announced
President, COO, CPO & VPs

HOUSTON, TX – Today, January 11, 2024 – Gringo’s Mexican Kitchen, known for its Tex-Mex cuisine and family atmosphere, is celebrating their 31st anniversary with big promotions for five team members. After thirty-one years, Russell Ybarra, President and CEO of Gringo’s Mexican Kitchen, and Jimmy Changas will lead his team as Chief Executive Officer of the company and has named loyal and long-time team member Jonathan Kim as President. Kim has been with the company for over 23 years starting as General Manager of the Gringo’s La Porte location. Kim rose through the ranks of corporate, serving as Vice President of Operations, and Senior Vice President of Operations before being named Chief Operating Officer in 2017. From handling procurement efforts, and participating in fundraising efforts such as “Pull-Ups for a Purpose” to leading the operations team, Kim has been a pillar of strength in the leadership and growth of Gringo’s Corporation.

In addition to Kim, Heather McKeon who previously held the Chief Marketing Officer position, is named the company’s Chief Operating Officer. McKeon has been with the company for 27 years starting as a hostess right out of high school at the Gringo’s La Porte location. McKeon paved her way to a management position where she later landed a position at the Corporate office as one of their first team members overseeing Gringo’s marketing efforts. In her tenure, McKeon has been a part of new store openings, developed new concepts such as The Lunch Box and Burger Libre, and led the way with her team from design to menu development. Heather’s ambition continues to be relentless as she strives to achieve excellence for the corporation.

Along with Kim and McKeon, Danny Hanks has been named Chief Procurement Officer. Hanks started as a server in 1998 before he was later promoted to General Manager. In 2007, Hanks became only the second General Manager to take over “The Original” Gringo’s location for the following 10 years before assuming a role in operations as Vice President. Hank’s passion to lead with Gringo’s core values at the center of his endeavors over the past 26 years demonstrates a steadfast commitment to his integrity, accountability, and compassion for the company and its team. Hanks will continue his leadership role as he assumes the position of purchasing and assessing all of the company’s products, and services while also being involved in the development of the company’s up-and-coming managers.

Gringo’s also promotes Matt Bussa who will be stepping up as Vice President of Operations and Amy Jo Owens who will assume the role of Vice President of Marketing. Bussa also started his tenure with the company as a server and worked his way to earning the coveted General Manager position at the flagship location, “The Original” Gringo’s in Pearland, Texas; being named only the third General

Manager to manage this location. Owens, a 20-year veteran in the restaurant industry starting at Landry’s Corporate headquarters as an Operations Assistant, has helped sphere-head Gringo’s marketing efforts for over six years and will now lead her team to continued success. “To say I am proud of all these promotions and the people behind the titles is an understatement. These are the people who have made Gringo’s Mexican Kitchen a leader in the restaurant industry, but also in every community we are a part of,” says Founder and CEO, Russell Ybarra.

These moves are part of Russell Ybarra’s strategic vision to secure and guarantee the future leadership of Gringo’s and Jimmy Changas for decades to come. Ybarra has invested an abundance of time and energy in developing a strong leadership team who share the same philosophy of excellence along with a deep understanding of what the Gringo’s culture is all about. Whether it is team members, the community, or vendors, being a positive influence on everyone is the Gringo’s way.

As the company continues to expand, opening its 16th Gringo’s location at the end of 2023 and set to break ground on its 17th location in Tomball by the end of the first quarter, the company is currently operating 20 locations throughout Southeast Texas, Ybarra strongly believes that these moves will help Gringo’s not outgrow its management development capabilities for the foreseeable future.

For additional information about Gringo’s Mexican Kitchen, visit gringostexmex.com.

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Eater Houston

Nevaeh Davis — Fri, 24 Feb 2023 15:16:25 +0000

Eater Houston: 15 Essential Tex-Mex Restaurants In Houston

02/23/23 | By: by Megha McSwain and Brittany Britto Garley

Gringo’s features around a dozen locations across the Houston area, but if you’re interested in seeing where it all began, head to the original in Pearland. Each outpost showcases Old West meets Mexican art and antiques while delivering Tex-Mex favorites like taquitos, grilled seafood, and some of the best fajitas and margaritas Houston has to offer. If you’re feeling festive, try the star-spangled banner, a combination of strawberry and lime margarita, swirled with blue curacao. End your visit with complimentary soft-serve ice cream.

https://houston.eater.com/maps/houston-best-tex-mex-mexican-restaurants

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Pearland Little League | #RoadToWilliamsport

Nevaeh Davis — Mon, 29 Aug 2022 17:19:39 +0000

Pearland Little League Community Event
On Monday, August 15th 2022, Our Pearland locations — Gringo’s “The Original” and Gringo’s Shadow Creek — hosted a benefit, donating 100% of restaurant sales, where we raised $40,000 to support the Pearland Little League Team as they advanced to the Little League World Series. Thank you to Pearland and the surrounding communities for making this donation possible by choosing Gringo’s! #PeopleOverProfits

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Gringo’s College Station

Nevaeh Davis — Wed, 03 Aug 2022 18:37:21 +0000

Gringo’s Mexican Kitchen Ready to Open in Aggieland
Tex-Mex Restaurant Opening in College Station, Texas

HOUSTON — July 15, 2022 — Gringo’s Mexican Kitchen is preparing to open its newest location in College Station, Texas. This will be the company’s very first location outside of the Houston market. Set to open on Tuesday, July 19th at 4pm, Gringo’s College Station will bring the brand’s count to 15 locations.

This Gringo’s Mexican Kitchen will be a 10,289-square-foot restaurant and is located at 4300 Texas 6 Frontage Road. The restaurant will welcome its guests with a beautiful vaulted ceiling in the entryway, a wraparound bar as the main focal point upon entry into the dining area, and surrounded by decor that captures the old West with a modern flair. Additionally, this location has incorporated art into the decor that captures the Aggie spirit with custom murals inside and outside of the restaurant.

The Team at Gringo’s is thrilled to begin creating relationships within the College Station community. Since the announcement of this Gringo’s location, they have had an overwhelming response from everyone. There are so many who know and love the brand. College students who grew up on Gringo’s are either attending Texas A&M and have relocated to College Station from Houston, or graduated and now live there. “We are so excited to be a part of the College Station community. It has been a long time in the making and we felt with the area development and growth that it was time,” said Heather McKeon, Chief Marketing Officer. “Our team is a family, just like the Aggie community and we hope to quickly become a partner and be known as the Official Tex-Mex of Texas A&M!”

Gringo’s will be serving up a menu that includes most of their staples such as the Pollo Marisco, Burrito con Queso, sizzling Fajitas, and their infamous Green Sauce. They will have their full bar menu available featuring their guest favorite, The Cadillac Margarita. For guests who prefer to dine at home or get it to go, Gringo’s will have their online ordering available where they have the option to select curbside or delivery and have the option to schedule their order up to 48 hours in advance.

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NEW Logo Reveal

Heather McKeon — Wed, 25 May 2022 14:00:39 +0000

Gringo’s Announces and Reveals New Logo

(La Porte, Texas) May 25, 2022 – Houston-based Gringo’s Mexican Kitchen known for their community involvement, high-quality Tex-Mex, and recognized by the iconic Las Vegas-style sign, unveiled its refreshed company logo today.

The new logo has recognizable features such as its similar shape, signature light bulbs, and iconic star, but with a more enhanced modern look and feel. “We think it’s confusingly similar, in the most positive way!” said Chief Marketing Officer, Heather McKeon. The new look allows the brand to finally trademark their identity and avoid other brands using the same, most replicated “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign. The timing was strategic in coordination with a new store opening, in a new market, College Station, planned for July 2022; while also preparing for the company’s 30-year anniversary in January 2023.

Russell Ybarra opened the “The Original” Gringo’s in Pearland in 1993. The logo, at the time, was hand-drawn and painted on the side of the building. Over the years, Gringo’s Mexican Kitchen has gone through several different logos, its most recognized logo being that of the Vegas-style sign. “The Vegas-inspired logo got us through a chapter in our journey, and it was just time for us to move forward from that and create our own identity. We feel this new logo still provides the “wow!” factor of the previous logo that our guests have come to know and love.” said McKeon. “We will continue to have the same guest first mentality, focused on exceptional hospitality while serving the highest quality Tex-Mex at the lowest price possible.”

Gringo’s Marketing Team partnered with Houston-based creative and marketing agency, Norton Creative to create the newly designed company logo. For more information about Norton Creative, visit https://norton-creative.com.

Visit any one of the Gringo’s locations throughout the Houston area, or for more information about Gringo’s Mexican Kitchen, visit https://www.gringostexmex.com.

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Gringo’s Acquires Long Term Managing Partner’s Five Units

Lilly — Wed, 13 Oct 2021 18:21:08 +0000

(La Porte, Texas) October 11, 2021 – Gringo’s Mexican Kitchen announced today that founder and owner, Russell Ybarra of Ybarra Franchising Group, has acquired Managing Partner and Franchisee Joel Perkins’ five Gringo’s locations. The merger will keep the Tex-Mex food franchise under the Gringo’s Corporation and will continue implementing its core values and commitment to reinvesting in their team members and the local community.

The transition, which began in July, has been smooth for all parties, including the on-site team members. “We are humbled and grateful to be able to keep the locations that have been instrumental in the growth within the Gringo’s family. We welcome the team members that serve our guests, and the communities in which they serve,” says Ybarra. Perkins, who started with Gringo’s as a General Manager, became a franchisee and has been an integral force in the company’s growth. Perkins plans to retire after a multi-decade career in the restaurant business.

Gringo’s Mexican Kitchen has been serving residents of Texas since 1993 and has grown to fourteen locations. Gringo’s operates full-service family dining restaurants in Houston and continues to grow, with a new location coming to Bryan-College Station in the Spring of 2022. Each Gringo’s is unique with handcrafted murals, original décor pieces, and a flare where the Old West meets Mexico. However, the quality of food, guest services, and atmosphere continue to make Gringo’s a mainstay in the restaurant industry.

The acquisition will keep all team members and management, approximately 450, from the five locations: The Woodlands, Champions, Spring, Cypress, and Fuqua. Gringo’s Mexican Kitchen has been successful in dine-in, catering, ordering online, and curbside to-go options. Community driven programs will remain unfazed, such as “Spirit Days” and other local school or organization collaborations.

Ybarra opened the “The Original” Gringo’s in Pearland 28 years ago and created the corporation’s sister concept restaurant, Jimmy Changas, in 2011. “Our company is unique because of our people — team & guests; and our focus has always been people over profits. So it is such a natural business move to bring in these locations who have each been an important part of the journey of where we are today,” says Heather McKeon, Chief Marketing Officer.

Visit any one of the Gringo’s locations throughout the Houston area, or for more information about Gringo’s Mexican Kitchen, go to https://www.gringostexmex.com

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Gringo’s Heading to Aggieland

Heather McKeon — Fri, 19 Mar 2021 15:29:16 +0000

Gringo’s Tex-Mex branching out of Houston

Today, March 19, 2021 — Gringo’s Tex-Mex is preparing to break ground on a new location in College Station, Texas. This will be the company’s fifteenth Gringo’s location; however, internal store number 12 was saved in honor of the Aggie’s Home of the 12th Man. Slated to break ground in June and planning for an early Spring opening in 2022.

Gringo’s College Station will be an 8,900-square-foot restaurant that will seat a total of 289 guests at full capacity and is located in the Tower Point development at the 4300 block of Texas 6 Frontage Rd. The restaurant will welcome its guests with a beautiful vaulted ceiling in the entryway, custom murals, a wraparound bar as the main focal point upon entry into the dining area, and surrounded by decor that captures the old West with a modern flair that includes hand-crafted Mexico inspired paintings and art all throughout. Schuster, Inc. will be handling the architecture & design, while Thomas Project Management & Construction will have their second Gringo’s project.

The Team at Gringo’s is excited to venture outside the Houston area. “College Station has been on our radar since 2018 and it’s finally time! With so much growth, I anticipate serving guests who grew up eating Gringo’s and now live in College Station; plus, students studying at Texas A&M who need their hometown Tex-Mex fix.” said Heather McKeon, Chief Marketing Officer of Gringo’s Tex-Mex.

Gringo’s will be serving up their famous Green Sauce, along with guest favorites such as the Pollo Marisco, Burrito con Queso, sizzling Fajitas; along with their full bar menu and The Cadillac Margarita.

For additional information on the new location follow on Facebook @gringoscollegestation, or visit their website at gringostexmex.com for more information. Join the restaurants’ el Club online to receive up-to-date information on all of the exciting news going on at the new location Gringo’s; plus, receive ‘el club’ exclusives.

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Gringo’s Opening in Katy Amidst a Pandemic

Amy Jo Green — Fri, 30 Oct 2020 15:52:58 +0000

Gringo’s Mexican Kitchen to Open Newest Location in Katy, Texas

10.30.2020 | Gringo’s Mexican Kitchen is preparing to open a new location in Katy, Texas. This will be the company’s second location in the Katy area alongside its sister-brand, Jimmy Changas. Set to open on Tuesday, November 10th at 11am, Gringo’s Katy will bring the brand’s count to 14 locations across the greater Houston area.

This Gringo’s Mexican Kitchen will be a 9,812-square-foot restaurant that will seat a total of 290 guests at full capacity and is located in the Grand Crossing Shopping Center at 230 W Grand Parkway S. The restaurant will welcome its guests with a beautiful vaulted ceiling in the entryway, custom murals, a wraparound bar as the main focal point upon entry into the dining area and surrounded by decor that captures the old West with a modern flair that includes hand-crafted Mexico inspired paintings and art all throughout.

The Team at Gringo’s is thrilled to strengthen their presence in the Katy community and have had an overwhelming response from everyone since their announcement to open this location back in March 2019. “To be able to open a new restaurant during a pandemic has been quite an adventure! Through it all, we’ve stayed focused on making progress and moving the project along. Our GC, Kevin Thomas, has been extraordinary and we look forward to future locations with him. Katy, it’s time! We have hired a talented team from the community and are ready to serve up some fajitas & margaritas.” said Heather McKeon, Chief Marketing Officer of Gringo’s Mexican Kitchen.

Gringo’s will be serving up a slightly condensed menu that includes most of their staples such as the Pollo Marisco, Burrito con Queso, sizzling Fajitas, and their infamous Green Sauce. They will have their full bar menu available featuring their guest favorite, The Cadillac Margarita. For guests who prefer to dine at home, curbside will be available, as well as catering. Join the restaurants’ el Club to receive up-to-date information on all of the exciting news going on at your favorite Gringo’s location, receive exclusive offers, and be in-the-know on new items.

For additional information on the new Katy location follow on Facebook @gringoskaty or visit their website at gringostexmex.com for more information.

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Gringo’s Success Comes From Taking Care of Workers

Heather McKeon — Fri, 22 Nov 2019 15:05:04 +0000

Gringo’s Success Comes From Taking Care of Workers

11/22/19 | By: Chris Tomlinson, Houston Chronicle

Russell Ybarra likes to brag about his MBA, only his stands for Mop and Bucket Attendant. He earned it at his dad’s La Porte restaurant, El Toro.

Sitting today in the headquarters of his restaurant empire, called the Tex-Mex Institute, Ybarra recalls some not-so-pleasant memories from when he first tried to prove himself. He struggled with his first food business, made some poor decision and focused on the wrong priorities.

“I got married at 18, I had two kids by the time I was 25, I lost a house to foreclosure when I was 26, and I returned a vehicle because I could no longer afford the $420.91 payment. You always remember the hard numbers,” he told me. “Whenever I focused on making money, I didn’t make any money.”

Ybarra looked again at how his father operated El Toro. Ybarra had worked full time there after graduating high school, and he remembered how his father spent profits to help build a church, sponsor a little league and care for employees.

When Ybarra tried again to open a restaurant in 1993, he had a whole new plan. “I was no longer going to focus on making money. I was going to focus on producing the absolute best product that I could and offer it at the absolute best value that I could,” he said.

Fabulous Gringo’s Tex-Mex has since grown into a chain of 19 family restaurants with annual revenue of $110 million and 2,500 employees.

Ybarra still credits quality, service and price as keys to his success, but he recognizes none of those are possible without good employees. Skilled workers — and as someone who has worked in restaurants, believe me, these jobs require skills — are hard to find in today’s tight labor market.

“It’s almost too competitive right now,” Ybarra said. “Our management team spends a lot of time interviewing, hiring and training and, we’re trying to reduce that the best way we can.”

Ybarra’s restaurants, which include Jimmy Changas, The Lunch Box and Burger Libre, offer full-time jobs with health insurance, retirement plans and bonuses, even for hourly workers. Everyone makes well above minimum wage, and managers focus on retention by developing a culture based on loyalty. “Had you told me when I opened this restaurant in ’93 that one day I’d pay for funerals, pay for vehicles, pay for houses and surgeries, I would never have believed you,” Ybarra said. “At the core of it, it’s about our people, which we consider our first stakeholders.”

Read the full article here.

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Restaurant Reaches Out To Help Local Boy Scout Troop

Heather McKeon — Tue, 30 Jul 2019 09:00:25 +0000

Restaurants reach out to help after Boy Scout trailer stolen from church

07/30/19 | By: Taisha Walker, KPRC Click2Houston

TOMBALL, Texas – A Boy Scout troop is learning a tough lesson about doing the right thing. Scout Troop 41 of Tomball discovered Monday night that someone stole their camping trailer sometime over the weekend. It’s usually parked behind Church of the Good Shepherd on East Carrell Street. Kevin Bissell, the committee chairman, said Scouts were gathering Monday night for their weekly meeting when one of them noticed the large white trailer was missing.

“One of the adults walked in and said the trailer’s gone. So we kinda reached out to some people who may have taken it somewhere and so we came over and noticed all the locks had been cut,” Bissell said.

Bissell estimated the trailer is worth $6,000 to $8,000. It’s the items inside that held the true value. The committee chairman said there were camping stoves, glass lanterns, tarps and tents among the items inside the trailer.

“We’re thinking it’s in the neighborhood of $22,000 for just the equipment inside,” he said.

Gringo’s Tex-Mex and Jimmy Changas got word of the stolen trailer on social media. The companies plan to write a $10,000 check to the troop Wednesday to help replace the trailer and some of the camping supplies.

“We actually don’t know anyone from the troop, but we all have families and kids and when they reached out, it just tugged at our hearts … these kids and their families and all the hard work they did to raise that money that’s suddenly stolen from them,” said Curtis Koch, an operations manager for the company.

Boy Scout Troop 41 is raising money to make up the rest of the funds.

Troop 41 dining at Gringo’s The Woodlands

Read the full article here.

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