Fusion Adventures in Rio Grande City

Thirteen years ago, Omar Garza, an architect student from Mexico, came to the Rio Grande Valley to continue his education. Once here, he changed course and went into business management where his love for Japanese food and his passion for entrepreneurship would merge together to become his first business venture. With the help of his brother-in-law, Belisario Cadena, they are akin to ardent samurai honing their skills, exploring and cultivating the fusion of Japanese cuisine and Mexican culture in this small Texas town.

How did the idea for your business come about?

My wife and I fell in love with Japanese cuisine when my brother-in-laws introduced it to us. They‘ve worked in Japanese restaurants for many years in McAllen. So when the opportunity arrived to start a business in Rio Grande City, our first thought was to share our love of sushi and open a Japanese restaurant. Together, with my brother-in-law’s extensive knowledge in Japanese cuisine and restaurant experience and my business knowledge, we opened Okashi.

"With the help of my brother-in-law, we trained our staff knowing that delicious food and great customer service lay the foundation for a successful restaurant."

How long was your typical work day/week when you first started your business? And did that change as your business grew?

In the beginning, I was at the restaurant all day, everyday. There was much to do and so many details to iron out that it consumed my time. I had to take what I studied in school and apply it in real time. I had to learn many different aspects of the food industry I was not familiar with. With the help of my brother-in-law, we trained our staff knowing that delicious food and great customer service lay the foundation for a successful restaurant. Now, I have a wonderful and dependable staff, which I am able to delegate responsibilities to and that has freed up some of my time.

What have been your greatest challenges to running a business?

The restaurant industry is the most challenging and the most unforgiving. It has the most failures compared to other businesses. Fifty percent of restaurants fail in their first year. With this in mind, it was important to find new ways to promote and advertise our restaurant. When you have a limited budget, different tactics need to be explored in order to find what works for the business. We distribute flyers and participate in community events when we can. We place ads in local magazines, newspapers and radio. We tried a rewards system app, but that did not work well for us. What I have seen work well has been building a loyal customer base through social media and the use of a billboard.

"When you have a limited budget, different tactics need to be explored in order to find what works for the business"

How do you define success?

For me, being able to make a career out of something you enjoy doing is my definition of success.

Who has been your greatest inspiration?

My wife is my greatest inspiration. She came to the United States to continue her studies not knowing English. With determination and perseverance, she finished college, graduated from medical school and is now a doctor. Having seen her face these challenges to achieve her goals keeps me grounded and I am motivated to keep moving forward. I am in complete awe and I feel that if you want success, you achieve it.

Quick Facts

Okashi Sushi Bar & Seafood

4761 Expressway 83 Ste. D • Rio Grande City, Texas 78582

Would you like to see your business showcased in this series? Email mgomez@rgcedc.org or call (956) 487-3476.