Today we’d like to introduce you to Balderas Tamale Factory.
Hi Balderas Tamale Factory , 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?
Our parents started selling tamales out of a white Chevrolet astro van, they had a route they would do throughout the week. The plan was to only sell tamales, and they were perfectly content with that, but after our grandparents suggested to put food that they sold at their restaurant in Round Rock, Texas our parents said why not… so they put the first restaurant on Grant Rd. whom many still remember today. In a small spot with sheet metal on the walls, a long counter made of Saltillo tile, wooden bar stools (which we still have today at our factory), and a small window looking into the kitchen. It was their dream, and growing up we saw our parents never giving up.
When our parents selected the spot on Grant Rd. they thought it was perfect.. or so they thought. It started to get crowed and people wanted to sit down and eat the home style San Antonio cooking, so they expanded and put tables and chairs, and then they expanded AGAIN and put more tables and chairs. After nine years on Grant Rd. they decided to move the restaurant to a bigger spot on Jones Rd. where the restaurant sits today. While much was new, one thing they assured that the food would never change.
In 2019 our beloved founder Mike Balderas, a father to two girls, a husband to a hard working dedicated wife, and a great leader passed due to diabetes. We dedicate in honoring this witty spirt in every dish we serve and every moment we create. We carry this legacy of loving what he loved to do, cook Carne Guisada, greet people with a smile and having a cup of coffee with a customer. So if you are a new customer welcome to the family, if you are a repeat we hoped that you got to know Mike, the man that used the slogan “tell your friends about us!”
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
We as restaurant owners can speak for all businesses in general, starting your own business it doesn’t matter what it is.. but let us just say first and foremost you’re doing the dang thing and that in itself is an accomplishment no matter how big or small. Starting from the ground up is never going to be a smooth road, and don’t let it set you back when things don’t go as planned it’s a learning process, everything in life is meant to teach you something.
Like for instance pulling permits, it may be the first time, and to others it may be the 20th time, regardless rules and regulations are always changing and there is always room to grow. Now it may be different for different types of businesses per example a gas station, boutique, vintage shop, and like us a restaurant that may need more permits than others.
After our father passed we got some criticism from customers, mentioning that it was easy for us to continue the business because it was handed to us, everything was built. Although that is true, continuing to run and maintain the restaurant is also challenging. Remember us mentioning permits, that’s not a one and done type of thing, equipment brakes down, employees come and go. Opening at 7am and having the whole day ahead of you not knowing what obstacles will present itself, but one thing our mom taught us is to open up with a prayer.
We’ve been impressed with Balderas Tamale Factory, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We manufacture tamales, and we love what we do! We tell everyone there is no wrong or right way to make a tamal, it’s how you grew up making them that means the most to you, the memories and the people around the table smearing the masa. We respect how everyone makes them whether you’re Honduran, or Salvadorian, or like a customer that walked in a couple weeks ago and told us his wife with no latin background tried to make tamales. We absolutely love that people want to get involve in our culture and learn our traditions.
As most Tex Mex or Mexican Restaurants sell alcohol, we do not and nor will we ever. Our dad said “let them have the alcohol, I want to sleep at night and not toss and turn wondering if a bartender poured more than they should have.” and he did. Our mom said “this restaurant doesn’t belong to me, it belong to the Lord and he has blessed us immensely.” So that was settled no alcohol.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
When our parents first started Balderas Tamale Factory in 2002 we started in a small spot on Grant Rd. Our father sat at the counter made of Saltillo tiles that he had built and tiled with his hands and saw the cars passing by hoping and praying someone would pull in and just give us a try. When one did he would get all excited and run and tell our mom “CUSTOMERS!!” with a smile he greeted them, and continued to do so up until he got ill and passed. His success was when he used the phrase “tell your friends about us!” and they actually did. One day while we were located on Grant Rd. he came into work and we were slammed, he was shocked. A customer had told him that we were featured on the radio. His slogan had been successful in bringing in the people, and it continued to grow. The restaurant got crowded on the weekends to where our parents had to build from the ground up the location Balderas Tamale Factory stands today on Jones Rd.
But if you ask us today “how do you define success?”, we still use the same slogan our dad used but being open for more than 15 years it’s a tad different…so we listed a couple below.
– Being able to open up with no hiccups/the tea dispenser not overflowing or leaking.
– Everyone showing up to work and not opening up with a skeleton crew.
– Receiving our order correct from our food vendors.
– When someone tells us we’ve been coming to Balderas for years.
– Putting a smile one someone face when they’ve had a bad day.
– Repeat Customers.
– New Customers.
– A new menu item becoming popular
– Believe it or not the negative reviews.. they help us correct any issues we didn’t see, which in return helps us to continue to succeed.
Sometimes success is not loud but it’s making it through the day, making it home even at that! Little or small accomplish doing what you love to do on a day to day basis.
Pricing:
- Dozen Pork/Hot Pork – $17.50
- Dozen Chicken – $17.50
- Dozen Beef/Hot Beef – $18.48
- Dozen Bean & Cheese – $17.50
- Dozen Jalapeño & Cheese – $18.48
Contact Info:
- Website: https://balderastamalefactory.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/balderastamalefactory/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/balderastamalefactory
Image Credits
All photos belong to Balderas Tamale Factory.
