As INDYCAR engines revved on Carburation Day in late May, El Maguey’s food truck grill was also firing on all cylinders on the west side of Indianapolis.
In under 90 minutes, the family restaurant and longtime Regions Bank customer prepared 150-plus arroz con pollo (chicken with cheesy rice) bowls and chicken and beef taco customer lunches at the bank’s Eagle Creek branch. The fiesta was provided courtesy of Regions during the bank’s Big Bike Tour circling the Circle City.
Siblings and restaurant co-owners Jose, Cruz and Ema Albarran recently shared a taste of El Maguey’s success story with us, including:
- When and how they launched the family business
- What sets their food apart
- How a two-decade relationship with Regions banker Anna Mbengue has helped them expand
We also share more of the story behind how the food truck became a key ingredient in the success of the Big Bike tour stop.
You’ve been in the restaurant industry for 23 years. How did your small-business journey begin?
We got started by renting out a small location with a few tables. At first, the three of us and our spouses were the only employees. As business began picking up, we expanded the restaurant a bit more, renting the retail location next door. We then hired more workers to help us.
What’s the most rewarding part of the business?
Our favorite part of working in the restaurant industry is meeting many different people and giving them a little taste of the extensive cuisine Mexico has to offer. We also enjoy customers who come back after all these years. We have seen customers who used to come in with their children years ago who now bring their grandchildren.
Your food was a big hit on event day! Tell us more about your signature dishes.
Our specialty is our al pastor. Especially now, with the trompo (a vertical rotating spit) on the food truck, we can cook it like taco stands in Mexico. At our restaurants, our specialty is our handmade tortillas. What distinguishes us from other Mexican restaurants is that we strive for the food to be authentic. We serve dishes that are specifically from the regions of Guerrero and Michoacan, where we’re originally from.
What’s something people might not know about your industry you think they should?
Running a restaurant goes beyond 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It requires a lot of time and dedication to see the business grow. Many sacrifices have to be made at first, like missing holidays or even having to use some of your savings to continue running the restaurant. But, with consistency, the efforts will pay off.
You’ve known Regions’ Eagle Creek branch manager, Anna Mbengue, more than 20 years. How has she helped support your business?
Anna has been wonderful from the start. She helped us regain trust in banking by providing guidance and helping us navigate the banking aspects of the business. She was also a great help in navigating us through the financial aspects of the food truck. Whenever we have a banking question, we go to Anna because she takes her time to explain our options in great detail and guides us through the whole process. She goes above and beyond and helps us with our personal banking as well.
The Joy of Watching El Maguey’s Grow and Succeed: Anna’s Perspective
I have had the privilege of working with the Albarran family for many years. Our relationship began when I was at a previous institution; when I joined Regions in 2008, they chose to continue banking with me. I’ve been able to help support them with a variety of financial solutions tailored to both their personal and business needs. I’ve also introduced them to teammates for additional solutions.
Two years ago, I connected Jose, Cruz and Emma with our partners at Ascentium Capital to help them purchase the food truck expanding their business. Seeing El Maguey’s in action and watching people enjoy their food during the Big Bike stop made the day especially meaningful.
I appreciate the Albaran family looking to me as a trusted advisor for important financial decisions, and I value the opportunity to help them navigate those decisions with confidence. It’s been rewarding to watch El Maguey’s grow and succeed knowing I’ve had a small role in supporting that journey. I’m honored they’ve also referred their children, family members, team members and friends to me. Banking multiple generations of the family is a privilege and a reflection of the strong relationships we’ve built over time.
Banking multiple generations of the family is a privilege and a reflection of the strong relationships we’ve built over time.
Anna Mbengue, Regions Banker
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