Francisco de la Paz, owner of the newly opened Mexican restaurant in southern Le Mars -- La Fiesta Charra -- visits in the kitchen with his top chef, Norberto Guevara, who has been cooking for about seven years, training under de la Paz. [Click to enlarge]

Now he's opened his 14th restaurant -- La Fiesta Charra in Le Mars.

De la Paz first moved to Missouri, and he picked up a job working in a restaurant kitchen.

De la Paz hails from the city of Guanajuato, the capital of Guanajuato, a state in central Mexico.

"In 1972, a guy from Guanajuato opened the first Mexican restaurant in Atlanta, Ga.," De la Paz said. "From there, more and more opened. Now most people from around my town are in the same business."

After working seven years in restaurant kitchens, cooking and teaching others to cook, de la Paz gathered his brothers and friends together and opened their first restaurant in Missouri.

Now he co-owns more than 10 in Missouri and three in Iowa.

He picked Le Mars for the site of La Fiesta Charra after visiting.

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"We were driving around looking for towns to open restaurants in, and we saw Le Mars had about a 10,000 population and a lot of things to offer," de la Paz said.

He and others redecorated a shop near Bomgaars in southern Le Mars just off of Business 75, and set up a menu.

It includes fajitas and burritos, along with steak and chicken from the grill.

"We have a little bit of everything so people can pick what they like," de la Paz said.

He should know -- he learns a lot from his customers. When he's not buzzing around the kitchen at La Fiesta Charra, he's stopping by diners' tables and asking how they like their meal.

De la Paz even learned English from customers. Back when he started in the kitchens, many of the kitchen staff spoke Spanish. He decided to learn English while working with customers.

Although his driver's license lists his home as St. Charles, Mo., De la Paz will stay in Le Mars until La Fiesta Charra gets on its feet.

Then he'll fully hand over management reigns to Miguel Ibarra, who is moving to Le Mars. Ibarra has been a restaurant cook for 10 years.

De la Paz will share La Fiesta Charra's ownership with Ibarra and with the first chef, Norberto Guevara, who trained under de la Paz for about seven years. The restaurant will employ about nine people.

De la Paz is planning another restaurant, for Sioux Center, to be opened in February.

La Fiesta Charra is named after a traditional rodeo celebration.

"Mexican people like to look for something to have fun," de la Paz said.

La Fiesta Charra is open seven days a week. Sunday through Thursday, hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. through 10:30 p.m.