Hartselle’s Don Alejo welcome diners for Taco Tuesday and more

Story & photos by Constance Smith

_{It all started when the Flores-Mendoza family lived in Marshall County. Omar Sr. worked for a restaurant in the area, managing two locations. Later his son, Omar Jr., began working in one of the restaurants, starting out as a dishwasher and worked his way up to manager, just like his father. One day Omar Sr. shared his dream with his family: “I think we can do this ourselves.”}

_{From that point forward, they set a goal and worked hard to save money and prepare to one day open their own restaurant.}

_{Sept. 4, 2017, that dream came to fruition. Omar Sr., his wife Isabel and her brothers, Jesus and Jaime, along with Omar Jr., opened Don Alejo – named after Isabel’s father, Alejandro. Omar Jr. beams with pride when he talks about the work and devotion his parents put in to realize their dream. He said it took six months to prepare the location for opening and convert it into the restaurant it is today.}

_{When the family obtained the location and moved to Hartselle, they did so without realizing there were already a number of successful Mexican restaurants in town. Omar Jr. said he thought, “What can we do to be different and stand out?”– a question that led to Taco Tuesday. Every Tuesday evening, the restaurant offers 99-cent tacos and draft beers. The first time the restaurant held Taco Tuesday, Omar Jr. said they were overwhelmed with the response. It was an instant hit. Omar Jr. laughs as he remembers it, saying the restaurant was packed from open to close and even ran out of chicken. Taco Tuesday has been a regular occurrence ever since.}

_{Omar Jr. doesn’t hesitate when naming his favorite dish: The Flaming Cheese. It’s a screaming hot skillet of melted mozzarella and Monterrey cheeses topped with sizzling peppers, onions and meat, and served with fresh tortillas and rice. Another popular dish is the Burrito Texano – a 10- or 12-inch burrito stuffed with fajita vegetables and every meat the restaurant serves – even bacon.}

_{Omar Jr. said that the restaurant plans on experimenting with new dishes, to include adding more traditional Mexican items to the menu.}

_{Customers frequent Don Alejo all the way from Madison, but that’s not all – a few regular customers come in every time they travel to the area from Texas and even Brazil.}

_{Omar Jr. said he and his family want the community to know how much the family appreciates the support and welcoming they have felt since moving here – and that none of this could have happened without the great people of Hartselle. Omar Sr., Isabel and their four children show that gratitude not only through words but through actions as well. The restaurant frequently hosts fundraising events, donating a portion of all the profits directly to local schools. Students will come and participate in the events, greeting patrons and helping out. It is one of the ways they can give back and show appreciation for the community they call home.}

_{Don Alejo is located at 800 Highway 31 SW, Suite D, and fans can connect with the restaurant on Facebook to find out about upcoming fundraisers and specials.}