Today we’d like to introduce you to Julio Gonzalez
Hi Julio, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My biography
Julio González Jr. (Junior) was born in the city of Chicago. He is also the son of the legendary Julio González Sr. who started a very popular restaurant chain.
In the early 1980s, Julio Sr. (Senior) moved his family from Chicago to Texas. It is in Houston, where Julio Sr. would open the first authentic Mexican taqueria called Taquerias Tepatitlán.
Our story begins in 1980, when Julio Sr. started a business on the north side of town called Taqueria Tepatitlán. This restaurant became the first of many in a chain of well known taquerias in Houston. With his father running a business, Julio Jr. learned the restaurant business from a young age. He learned every aspect of the restaurant business. Julio Jr. learned to prepare ingredients, where he developed many culinary skills, and became a very good and well liked cook. Learning business from an early age would eventually help Julio Jr. successfully run businesses later in life.
However, like some young boys, Julio Jr. was very rebellious, and didn’t like to follow rules. Because of this, he was constantly at odds with his parents. He was expelled from school several times. His attitude problems eventually led him to live with his aunt in Grand Prairie, near Dallas. It was at this time, Julio Jr. was then transferred to a school in Grand Prairie. For a year, while living with his aunt, he continued to have problems in school. For most people who knew him at the time, people wondered. Julio Jr. had everything going for himself. But even with a good upbringing, he continued to be rebellious in school, with his family, and against society. He felt he identified more with street life than with his family. Julio Jr. felt his attitude was a result of having both parents with busy schedules with little time for their children. Whenever the parents had a bad day at work, the problems came home. This caused Julio Jr. to seek refuge in the streets of Houston.
At the age of 13, Julio Jr. could not longer stay in Grand Prairie Texas. So, his parents shipped him off military school. This was a short lived episode. Without permission or documentation, Julio Jr. ran off to Aguascalientes. In Mexico, Julio Jr. stayed with Pancha, his grandmother, for a few months. During this time, he met a lot of friends and made some very bad enemies. As some native Mexicans did not like a young Mexican American coming into their country and taking all the attention of the young. And with newfound enemies, he escaped many near death situations in the streets of Mexico. During this time, he was also involved in a very tragic head-on collision. Five people died in this accident. Julio Jr. survived by sitting in the back of the bus. After this, it was time for Julio Jr. to move back to Houston.
In 1996, while attending a Fiesta in the southwest side of Houston, Julio Jr. was shot in the head. He was taken to a hospital and survived. He believes God was protecting him. The bullet went thru the back of his head and only thru his cheek which had no major consequences. After only 5 days, he was discharged from the hospital. In no time, Julio Jr. was back on the streets, looking for trouble.
All through his youth and in his later teen years, Julio Jr. was in and out of jail until he got married in 2000 and moved to Dallas. Everything seemed to change for the better.
In Dallas, Julio Jr. started working at a printing company where he learned many printing skills. Once he gained enough experience, he quit and started “TOP DOGZ” signs builders. Top Dogs in Spanish is called “Los Perronez”. Business was good in Dallas. There was a high demand for everything printed signage: flyers, business cards, custom signs, channel letters, graphic designs, etc.
During his time in Dallas, there were still many conflicts occurring with many people. People who were around him at the time were constantly pulling him in different directions with many types of manipulation. When he was finally betrayed, he knew he was being used and that was the end of his time in Dallas. It was too much for him.
Due to the damage many people caused, in 2006, Julio Jr. decided to return to Houston. He was also in the process of a divorce from his wife during this time. That is another wild story.
Back in Houston, Julio Jr. returned to work at his father’s restaurants (where it all began). It was during this time, where he began to build his client portfolio (from scratch) and continue his company TOP DOGZ sign builders. This is where the name El Perron comes from. Top Dog means El Perron which people call Julio Jr.
In 2012, Julio Jr. worked very hard to open his first sign business location in Plaza Americas. Along the way, another significant thing happened. Julio Jr. turned to Christianity to serve Jesus (The Christ of God). Because of this, he clean up his past, and continue to live a better life, a life of righteousness which is in Christ.
For several years, Julio Jr. he tried to be reconcile back to his parents. This seemed impossible, so he continued to pray for them. As Julio Jr. believes, with God nothing will be impossible. Luke 1:37.
Julio Jr. did not stop believing in God. Because of this, 3 days before passing away, Julio Sr. and Julio Jr. reconciled in 2018. From this, father and son were able to give one another love and peace before parting for the final time.
Julio Jr. believes this his fathers passing has motivated him to strive harder with his own personal pursuits. Despite the struggles his father had, he was able to raise a family and a run a successful business chain. This work ethic has inspired Julio Jr. to achieve his own aspirations, in the same tradition as his father had done. The example set by his father, someone who was able to persevere through difficult times, even with an imperfect family. His father never quit. He never gave up. This instilled a sense of determination for Julio Jr. to do better for the future of his own family and business. Now, Julio Jr. aims to continue the legacy left by his father and keep his fathers high standard of business ethics, even in his father’s absence.
Julio Sr. left behind 5 successful (grown) children, 2 boys, and 3 girls.
In 2021, Julio Jr. moved his business to a 6,800 square foot warehouse (this is big). This new larger space allowed Top Dogz sign builders to expand from custom dimensional signage to include custom vehicle wraps for cars, trucks, fleet vehicles and food trucks. His company has 20 years experience doing and custom architectural signage and electrical signs custom manufactured in the state of Texas.
Currently, TOP DOGZ signs builders provide services to small and medium sized companies as well as large national companies, such as Tuesday Morning, JP Morgan CHASE Bank, and Petsmart.
Over time, TOP DOGZ sign builders has been expanding its business portfolio of services to include construction remodeling, 3D ice studio custom jewelry for celebrities. The next service that will be added will be edible items. TOP DOGZ is also venturing into becoming a full production company under the name Top Dogz Productions and Entertainment, LLC, offering services such as photography, video production, artist & model management, and with a recording studio for new and existing labels.
And now, in the planning stages will be a new movie based on the true story of the rise of Top Dogz father and son titled, in Spanish “El Perro Callejero”.
Today, Julio Jr’s motto is “the sky is the limit”. This reflects his vision and entrepreneurial spirit. Because, despite the obstacles in his path, Julio Jr. has managed to build a prosperous business and has shown that with determination and hard work, it is possible to achieve the American dream.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My biography
Julio González Jr. (Junior) was born in the city of Chicago. He is also the son of the legendary Julio González Sr. who started a very popular restaurant chain.
In the early 1980s, Julio Sr. (Senior) moved his family from Chicago to Texas. It is in Houston, where Julio Sr. would open the first authentic Mexican taqueria called Taquerias Tepatitlán.
Our story begins in 1980, when Julio Sr. started a business on the north side of town called Taqueria Tepatitlán. This restaurant became the first of many in a chain of well known taquerias in Houston. With his father running a business, Julio Jr. learned the restaurant business from a young age. He learned every aspect of the restaurant business. Julio Jr. learned to prepare ingredients, where he developed many culinary skills, and became a very good and well liked cook. Learning business from an early age would eventually help Julio Jr. successfully run businesses later in life.
However, like some young boys, Julio Jr. was very rebellious, and didn’t like to follow rules. Because of this, he was constantly at odds with his parents. He was expelled from school several times. His attitude problems eventually led him to live with his aunt in Grand Prairie, near Dallas. It was at this time, Julio Jr. was then transferred to a school in Grand Prairie. For a year, while living with his aunt, he continued to have problems in school. For most people who knew him at the time, people wondered. Julio Jr. had everything going for himself. But even with a good upbringing, he continued to be rebellious in school, with his family, and against society. He felt he identified more with street life than with his family. Julio Jr. felt his attitude was a result of having both parents with busy schedules with little time for their children. Whenever the parents had a bad day at work, the problems came home. This caused Julio Jr. to seek refuge in the streets of Houston.
At the age of 13, Julio Jr. could not longer stay in Grand Prairie Texas. So, his parents shipped him off military school. This was a short lived episode. Without permission or documentation, Julio Jr. ran off to Aguascalientes. In Mexico, Julio Jr. stayed with Pancha, his grandmother, for a few months. During this time, he met a lot of friends and made some very bad enemies. As some native Mexicans did not like a young Mexican American coming into their country and taking all the attention of the young. And with newfound enemies, he escaped many near death situations in the streets of Mexico. During this time, he was also involved in a very tragic head-on collision. Five people died in this accident. Julio Jr. survived by sitting in the back of the bus. After this, it was time for Julio Jr. to move back to Houston.
In 1996, while attending a Fiesta in the southwest side of Houston, Julio Jr. was shot in the head. He was taken to a hospital and survived. He believes God was protecting him. The bullet went thru the back of his head and only thru his cheek which had no major consequences. After only 5 days, he was discharged from the hospital. In no time, Julio Jr. was back on the streets, looking for trouble.
All through his youth and in his later teen years, Julio Jr. was in and out of jail until he got married in 2000 and moved to Dallas. Everything seemed to change for the better.
In Dallas, Julio Jr. started working at a printing company where he learned many printing skills. Once he gained enough experience, he quit and started “TOP DOGZ” signs builders. Top Dogs in Spanish is called “Los Perronez”. Business was good in Dallas. There was a high demand for everything printed signage: flyers, business cards, custom signs, channel letters, graphic designs, etc.
During his time in Dallas, there were still many conflicts occurring with many people. People who were around him at the time were constantly pulling him in different directions with many types of manipulation. When he was finally betrayed, he knew he was being used and that was the end of his time in Dallas. It was too much for him.
Due to the damage many people caused, in 2006, Julio Jr. decided to return to Houston. He was also in the process of a divorce from his wife during this time. That is another wild story.
Back in Houston, Julio Jr. returned to work at his father’s restaurants (where it all began). It was during this time, where he began to build his client portfolio (from scratch) and continue his company TOP DOGZ sign builders. This is where the name El Perron comes from. Top Dog means El Perron which people call Julio Jr.
In 2012, Julio Jr. worked very hard to open his first sign business location in Plaza Americas. Along the way, another significant thing happened. Julio Jr. turned to Christianity to serve Jesus (The Christ of God). Because of this, he clean up his past, and continue to live a better life, a life of righteousness which is in Christ.
For several years, Julio Jr. he tried to be reconcile back to his parents. This seemed impossible, so he continued to pray for them. As Julio Jr. believes, with God nothing will be impossible. Luke 1:37.
Julio Jr. did not stop believing in God. Because of this, 3 days before passing away, Julio Sr. and Julio Jr. reconciled in 2018. From this, father and son were able to give one another love and peace before parting for the final time.
Julio Jr. believes this his fathers passing has motivated him to strive harder with his own personal pursuits. Despite the struggles his father had, he was able to raise a family and a run a successful business chain. This work ethic has inspired Julio Jr. to achieve his own aspirations, in the same tradition as his father had done. The example set by his father, someone who was able to persevere through difficult times, even with an imperfect family. His father never quit. He never gave up. This instilled a sense of determination for Julio Jr. to do better for the future of his own family and business. Now, Julio Jr. aims to continue the legacy left by his father and keep his fathers high standard of business ethics, even in his father’s absence.
Julio Sr. left behind 5 successful (grown) children, 2 boys, and 3 girls.
In 2021, Julio Jr. moved his business to a 6,800 square foot warehouse (this is big). This new larger space allowed Top Dogz sign builders to expand from custom dimensional signage to include custom vehicle wraps for cars, trucks, fleet vehicles and food trucks. His company has 20 years experience doing and custom architectural signage and electrical signs custom manufactured in the state of Texas.
Currently, TOP DOGZ signs builders provide services to small and medium sized companies as well as large national companies, such as Tuesday Morning, JP Morgan CHASE Bank, and Petsmart.
Over time, TOP DOGZ sign builders has been expanding its business portfolio of services to include construction remodeling, 3D ice studio custom jewelry for celebrities. The next service that will be added will be edible items. TOP DOGZ is also venturing into becoming a full production company under the name Top Dogz Productions and Entertainment, LLC, offering services such as photography, video production, artist & model management, and with a recording studio for new and existing labels.
And now, in the planning stages will be a new movie based on the true story of the rise of Top Dogz father and son titled, in Spanish “El Perro Callejero”.
Today, Julio Jr’s motto is “the sky is the limit”. This reflects his vision and entrepreneurial spirit. Because, despite the obstacles in his path, Julio Jr. has managed to build a prosperous business and has shown that with determination and hard work, it is possible to achieve the American dream.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Top Dog sign builders?
Dogz sign builders to expand from custom dimensional signage to include custom vehicle wraps for cars, trucks, fleet vehicles and food trucks. His company has 20 years experience doing and custom architectural signage and electrical signs custom manufactured in the state of Texas.
Currently, TOP DOGZ signs builders provide services to small and medium sized companies as well as large national companies, such as Tuesday Morning, JP Morgan CHASE Bank, and Petsmart.
Over time, TOP DOGZ sign builders has been expanding its business portfolio of services to include construction remodeling, 3D ice studio custom jewelry for celebrities. The next service that will be added will be edible items.
TOP DOGZ is also venturing into becoming a full production company under the name Top Dogz Productions and Entertainment, LLC, offering services such as photography, video production, artist & model management, and with a recording studio for new and existing labels.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
With a lesson that I learned to do all this journey is that sometimes we have up and downs, but we can never let go of our dreams
Contact Info:
- Website: https://topdogzsignbuilders.com/
