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Is Hector’s still Hector’s without Hector?
A popular Kelowna restaurant owner retired earlier this year, leaving his family-run restaurant, Hector’s Casa, under new management.
But Hector’s new owner, “Paco” Merinero, says fans need not be concerned with the changing of the guard.
“Everything is the same, it’s just a change of administration,” Merinero says. “It’s not broken, I don’t need to fix it.”
Since it opened in 1999, Hector’s has been famous as much for its beloved owner as for its authentic Mexican cuisine.
Merinero insists he and his wife are keeping Hector’s entire menu, along with all of the old staff and servers. Hector’s son Sergio will even stay on as the head chef.
Those who had come to love Hector’s presence in the restaurant also need not be afraid. Merinero said that, although the boisterous host has retired, he still lives close by, and is often still around.
While much remains the same at Hector’s Casa, Merinero says he and his wife are making a few small tweaks.
For instance, the restaurant is now open for breakfast, serving up Huevos Rancheros and other authentic Mexican cuisine. It’s also started opening on Sundays as well, offering brunch all weekend long.
Merinero says he’s also looking at putting a bar near the back of the restaurant to make it more accessible to patrons on the patio, and eventually bringing in some live music.
He’ll also be adding a few new dishes to the menu, paying homage to the regions around his home town of Mexico City.
Merinero came to Canada from Mexico six years ago, and is already known in Kelowna as the owner of a Blenz Coffee franchise on Pandosy Street.
He said he and his wife were “looking for a new adventure,” so they decided to buy Hector’s Casa earlier this year.
Once things get going, he said, they may even look at Franchising to other cities. That, however, is a decision for the future.
“For the moment I’m just having a really great time,” he says.
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