Business Name
Suerte Bar & Grill on South 10th.
Owner Name
Jessica Aguilar, Benjamin Peña and Eric Peña.
Business Location
2001 S 10th St McAllen, TX.
What motivated you to start this business?
We had previously had a smaller bar known as Thirsty Monkey located on downtown 17th Street at the time and saw that a neighboring spot on the plaza was available and jumped at the opportunity. Suerte is inspired by celebrating RGV and Mexican Culture through food, drinks, music, and livelihood.
What is the history of your business?
Suerte Bar & Grill is a family-owned business established in 2013 in Downtown McAllen. Suerte featured Mexican Loteria Cards with a twist by incorporating them into drinks and decorations around the bar. Suerte Bar & Grill’s concept grew rapidly among the valley resonating with both locals and tourists enjoying their tacos, lonches, and mixed loteria-inspired drinks. With Suerte being family-owned we have really been able to connect our family through our small business, everyone in the family had a role in helping grow the business in any way they can from bartending, to managing, or helping brainstorm ideas. Flash forward to now Suerte has grown to 4 new locations: Uptown McAllen, South 10th McAllen, Sharyland, & Weslaco.
What product/special services do you offer?
Suerte is a Bar & Grill, we offer appetizers like Chips & Queso, Jalapeño Poppers, and Mozzarella Sticks. Some popular entrees are our tacos offered with bistek, fajita, pastor, tripas, and shrimp, Mexican hotdogs and burgers, Super Quesadillas, Enchiladas and Nachos. We also offer group serving size taco platters with both 25 and 50 count options. Suerte has become well known for our loteria art drinks which are 24 oz. drinks with the most delicious toppings! A popular sticker drink we’ve made is “El 956 Cuhh,” a delicious tropical flavored cocktail topped with pineapple chunks, chamoy, trechas, and a mini taquache cutout, the sticker is of a palm tree popular to the RGV.
What makes your business product/service standout from the rest?
Suerte has been able to stand out from competitors thanks to the creativity behind the products. Suerte places a strong focus on producing creative drink art, mixology, and presentation. We have been able to follow trends and incorporate pop culture into the brand, creating drinks and theme nights reflecting trending pop culture topics.
As a small business owner, what does business mean to you?
Business is a reflection of personal growth, as well as a way to create new opportunities for not only myself, but to others and the community. Business provided an opportunity to work for myself and explore my own goals and dreams.
Are you involved in any initiatives that give back to the community? If so, please elaborate.
Yes, we are. We have been able to adopt an elementary school that we grew up going in located in a low-income area. We have been able to give back to them by providing the kids with exciting experiences to help keep them motivated about learning and going to school. We have been able to take the students Christmas shopping at 5 Below store, for the past two years. We hope to continue this tradition and provide this to more schools in the future.