Today we’d like to introduce you to Isela Robles.
Hi, Isela; please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
The Casa Maria story, though somewhat cliché, truly embodies the ‘American Dream.’ My mother, Fatima, came to the U.S. to provide for our family and build something of her own. In 1997, Austin was nothing compared to the city today; restaurants and food trucks weren’t as ubiquitous as they are now. Our success is owed, in part, to timing and location. Our Austin establishment opened in a small shopping center on South 1st, nestled in an area with a primarily Hispanic community that warmly welcomed us. The other key to our success lies in our commitment to hospitality and food quality. We aimed to bring a taste of our Mexican home to Austin by offering traditional dishes we love and know how to make. Successfully catering to the needs of our community, our commitment to serving tasty Mexican food led to rapid growth through word-of-mouth, allowing us to establish a base of loyal customers. Our impact extended beyond the everyday person as we formed meaningful relationships with local organizations in our area, from St. Elmo Elementary School and St. David’s Medical Center to the San Jose Church. About 11 years ago, my Husband and I decided to operate our own Casa Maria, so when the opportunity presented itself, we established another Casa Maria in Kyle. While only 15 minutes away from our Austin location via I-35, the landscape in Kyle at the time was quite different. In a small town with an established and well-known Mexican restaurant in the area that had a strong presence and loyal following, it wasn’t easy to win over the residents of Kyle. Initially, there was some struggle. About 11 years ago, my husband and I decided to operate our own Casa Maria. When the opportunity presented itself, we established a new location in Kyle, just 15 minutes from our Austin establishment via I-35. However, the landscape in Kyle at that time was notably different. It was a small town with an established and popular Mexican restaurant already in place, boasting a solid presence and a loyal following. Winning over the residents of Kyle was challenging at first. However, our strategic location right off I-35 and the introduction of a drive-thru at our Kyle location started to pay off. The ability to offer restaurant-quality food through a drive-thru became a game-changer for us. In 2020/2021, my husband and I took over the operations of our Austin location, providing some much-needed and well-deserved break for my mother. Although she still insists on being at the restaurant as much as possible, the change allowed her not to carry as much stress on her shoulders.
Alright, let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
I wish I could say it’s been a smooth road, but as with everything in life, there are always challenges. The most recent and undoubtedly the most difficult obstacle we’ve faced was COVID and the subsequent lockdowns. At the pandemic’s peak, food costs from our vendors surged to 2x-4x pre-COVID prices. Coupled with the need to either close our dining rooms or operate them at a fraction of total capacity due to city ordinance, it wasn’t very comforting. We navigated these challenging times by pivoting towards to-go orders and bakery sales, sustaining us until the restrictions were lifted. In Kyle, our drive-thru was king; some days, we experienced lines long enough to rival Chick-fil-A. We are fortunate to have made it through such scary times; it felt like every week, we would hear about beloved restaurants throughout the Austin area having closed their doors during the lockdown.
We’ve been impressed with Casa Maria Mexican Restaurant and Bakery, but for folks who might need to be more familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
At Casa Maria, we are dedicated to delivering delicious, authentic Mexican food. Some specialties we are known for include our breakfast tacos made on homemade flour tortillas, flavorful fajitas, and incredibly popular menudo. We have also incorporated a panaderia (bakery) into our locations, where we make fresh pastries every day. Our commitment to authenticity sets us apart, which I’m particularly proud of. We haven’t strayed from our roots – our salsa and tortillas are made from scratch every morning, we cut, clean, and marinate our meat and chicken, and our bakery, or panaderia, churns out fresh pastries, thanks to our small team of bakers. It would be easier to opt for pre-made items that our suppliers sell, but we firmly believe in the rich flavor and soul of doing things the traditional way.
Please talk to us about happiness and what makes you happy.
I am happy to be surrounded by my children, my husband, and my mother because they are the ones who drive me to do everything better. To me, family is what’s most important. It doesn’t matter what we are doing or where we are; just being with them is all I need.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://casamariarestaurants.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/casa_mariarestaurant/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CasaMariaRestaurantInKyle
- Other: https://maps.app.goo.gl/drZtut2n3QqGkwMk6
