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“We all need to do something for Puerto Vallarta”
Evangelina was born in San Juan de Abajo, Nayarit, and is in love with Puerto Vallarta. Eva, as she is known by her friends on the Cuale River Island, came from a very large family, somewhat matriarchal, and is an example of determination. She used to travel two hours very early in the mornings to attend school here.
After holding several jobs, she met Humberto Esparza, the owner of restaurant Le Bistro, and he became her mentor and guide in the restaurant business. She learned accounting, payroll, administration and many other skills. “Humberto and I opened La Cuiza restaurant, then later came Café de Artistes. Thierry Blouet was already a partner there, and I worked alongside him for three years.”
With the experience gained from that business and some savings, she acquired the River Café from Javier Juárez, who made long-term arrangements for payment so she could start running it again. “Javier told me to pay him enough to clear his employees’ payroll, and then I could start fresh. I then started to pay little by little, while my husband was helping me with the décor.”
“Many people thought I was going to fail because it was very difficult in the beginning. I would work 16-hour days and sometimes more. I did a little bit of everything, but I did have help from my husband and family. Even though I became severely ill after one year, it was all worth it.”
It’s been 12 years since then; however, in recent days, new challenges have arisen. “For 10 years we experienced growth, and then the following three years we became stagnant. Now there is a decrease in the number of visitors and customers.”
Eva loves her work; it has provided her lots of satisfaction as it allows her to meet many people and contribute to the good image of Puerto Vallarta. Her philosophy is that a customer that is happy with a restaurant tends to return to the city where it’s located.
“We try to make sure our customers return. I have seen families with small children, and when they return, their children are grown. I see that I am welcoming a second generation.”
She believes we all should give something to improve the situation in the city, and that everyone should do their part. The municipal government, the unions, the business community, everyone should give something of themselves to support the increase in prices so that we don’t have to pass them down to the tourists.
Eva has three children, two boys and a girl. The oldest recently graduated business school and works alongside her and confesses that it has been hard on them because the restaurant has taken away so much of their mother’s time.
HER FAVORITE PLACES
- Her home, where she spends time with her husband and children
- The family ranch in Ixtapa, which reminds her of San Juan
- Mariscos Tino’s restaurant, where she enjoys the broiled fish
By Rodrigo López Becerril
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