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13 MARCH HER
I’ve been here since 1990, so 30 years in Hot Springs.”
After getting married in 1991, the couple embarked on the path of the restaurant business for several years before they took the plunge. They opened the doors to Jose’s at 5361 Central Ave. in 2004.
“My brother has a Mexican restaurant in Hope,” she said. “He’s the one who started the Mexican food, the Mexican restaurant. We all use the same recipes. In Texarkana, Hope, and Atlanta, Texas. They’re all called Amigo Juan and we have
the two Jose’s. My mom mixes all the recipes. She comes here every two to three months and packages all the recipes so the food will be consistent.”
Soto described how a normal day for her begins at 6 a.m. and lasts until 9 p.m. or 10 p.m.
“I get my kids ready and take them to school,” she said, “and then after, I go to the cleaners, Sam’s or Walmart, then go back home and come here about 10 a.m. I make sure everything is done and ready to go and our lunch is busy from 11:30 to
1:30 or so. Then I’ll go back in the office and do payroll or paperwork. About 2:30, I go to school to pick up the kids and make sure they eat and if they have activities, we’ll take them. And then after that, I’ll come back sometimes for a dinner rush and then home to do laundry and whatever needs to get done.”
She went on to add how interac- tive she is within the restaurant.
“I do everything that I can,” Soto said. “Taking food out, even in the kitchen if I need to do something, I’ll do it. I like the teamwork. I’m here
90% of the time, open to close. If you don’t see me, then I might be in the back loading trays up or I might be doing payroll. It doesn’t mean I’m not here. ... At the Malvern Avenue location, if somebody calls in, I’ll be there. So if I need to come and cash people out ... I’m not afraid of working.”
With their second location open- ing at 2215 Malvern Ave. in 2010, Soto said she has been able to balance her time between the restaurant and her family.
“We have Jose Jr., Anna Marie,
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HER MAGAZINE ¯ March/April 2020 13