Interview: Since His 16-Years of Age, Mr. Misael Nunez Has Been Pursuing Fresh Ideas - Tres Hermanos Restaurant
Our special guest in this occasion is Mr. Misael Nuñez, founder and owner of “Tres Hermanos” restaurants. He is a proud Mexican native who has successfully escalated through social and racial imbalances with little to no excuse to persevere. His story began with the lack of options and a primitive urgency to survive in his hometown of Ayotzintepec Oaxaca. Located in the Northern part of the state of Oaxaca in Mexico.
“Wake up! It’s time to wake up!” those were the words used to wake up 6-year-old Misael while riding horseback but falling asleep and waking up to a dirt snowball chucked by his own father right to his head to alert him and tell him that he had fallen asleep again on his horse. This was something that according to Misael was justified. Him falling asleep while guiding the horse through the fields resulted in Misael’s horse feeding on some of the crops which resulted in his father earning a smaller pay at the end of the week. This was catastrophic for the family, since what they were usually counting on was barely enough to keep a measly but consistent flow of tortillas and beans on the dinner table for the rest of the family to survive from.
Misael’s father treated him like a man, although he was a boy. Misael justifies his father’s heavy hand with him. Years later Misael went on to become one of the greatest riders of the region. Unfortunately, around the time Misael was 14-years old, the progress of agricultural machinery made an impact on work for his family. Tired of overworking, lack of resources and his father’s strong personality Misael decides to emigrate to the United States at the age of 16 years old to try to find a better way to help his family get out of the dire situation they were in.
It was the year 2000, Misael made it across the country borders and began to work immediately in a packing company. “I remember, after receiving that first check I went to Walmart and bought myself a tray of 24 chicken legs and ate all of them, I was starving!" While eating, I thought of my mother and family who had less than what I did at the time and promised to send money as soon as possible so that they could eat as well as I was eating”.
Misael kept working and sending home money for years. He saved and became an adult. He met someone in 2003 by the name of Matilde Mendoza, who he started family with. Today they have 3 children and have been together for 19 years. “Matilde and I have been through so much together and have always overcome hard times. We used to have a shoe box where we would deposit $100 weekly no matter what was going on in our lives. There where times when we could only afford to put $50 into the box and it didn’t feel good so I would sell phone cards to get caught up on our savings plans. We would never spend money without necessity. Even when we had a daughter, I changed jobs so that we could still afford basics and keep saving.” Misael keeps recalling, “When my son was born, Matilde called me while I was at work and asked me if I was going to make it to the hospital for the birth and I painfully had to say no. I told her that I could not be with her and my son this time but I would be with him during the rest of all important events in his life, this was why I had to work so hard right then.”
He worked at a restaurant from 2005 to 2008, trying to learn everything he could learn so that he could start his own business as soon as possible. That happened in 2009, 12 years and 9 restaurants later Misael’s legacy hasn’t stopped expanding. Misael didn’t go back home to Mexico for 16 years! Finally, it was time for him to visit his parents and work through his process process of acquiring his legal status. This trip was a big moment to reunite with his mother and father while also introducing Matilde and their children. Throughout the years, Misael bought his parents a home in Mexico and helped support them while supporting his own family. “This is my dream come true” says Misael, “witnessing the happiness I’ve facilitated providing the house of my family’s dreams as well as seeing them healthy and smiling. My older kids are very involved in the business, in particular my daughter Jennifer. She’s one the people I can trust with some management aspects of the process like payroll and buying responsibilities. She really takes a load off me. Both of my older kids share important tasks and are beyond capable at their young age. I always thank God! Although I don’t feel part of any particular religion.”
Overall, every situation and roadblock has been manageable with proper work and planning according to Misael. The latest season of issues to manage and keep moving through has been the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020. Although his employees became ill and he had to close down 1 location, the rest of the business is thriving, and the team as a whole has learned to adjust and do what they can do. Another negative almost impossible to penetrate obstacle in the past for Misael was working around racism. There was a time where he tried to rent an apartment, but they would not rent it to him due to him being Mexican. At that time, he was angry and thought about buying out that very building to not have to deal with that racist behavior from others. Pressure and discomfort have always been fuel for someone like Misael and he admits that regardless life is beautiful and worth living. “We live in a sort of jungle and we all want to be lions but first we have to learn and grow and appreciate the process in the way to achieve our goals, it’s an important lesson and simple one”. Adorned by a smile and positive tone, this is how Misael wraps up his thoughts.
Cheers! To “Tres Hermanos” and our friend Misael. May all the health and success keep finding him, his thriving family and growing business.
Tres Hermanos
10951 A US Route 60
Ashland, KY 41102-9602
Phone: 606 928-0222