It’s impossible to know when a single decision is going to change the trajectory of a life or the success of a business. Such was the case, in 1991, when Francisco Hernandez said yes to becoming a co-owner of Tacos & Co, a small Mexican restaurant in Irvine, Calif. As the muscle of the business, Hernandez oversaw all day-to-day operations while his partner and lifelong mentor provided the financial backing and business acumen. After a few successful years, Hernandez got a loan and took sole ownership of the business.

“We’ve been riding many waves ever since,” Hernandez said of what is now a family-owned operation that includes six taco shops and a pizza place. “We’ve been through 9/11, the market crash, Covid…we’re resilient, to say the least.”

Hernandez grew his franchise and brought the flavors of Mexico City to Orange County, California. Then, in 2018, he said another transformative yes, this time to Cox Business.

He’d been, as he put it, “very, very patient” with another provider as the quality of their service declined and declined further. “The landline and internet were deficient, and it took forever to get a human being on the phone,” explained Hernandez. “And when I did talk to someone, they didn’t understand the product.”

An unreliable phone network, spotty internet, and poor customer service are frustrating to everyone, but they can be fatal to a small business. Enter Cox Business representative Michael Mannone who quickly developed a close working relationship with his new customer. The team at Cox Business, Hernandez said, was the antidote to his problems, and he couldn’t be more pleased.

“We’re considered fast food and our margins are very slim, so the reliability is very important,” Hernandez said.

Every penny matters because Tacos & Co is in direct competition with large chain restaurants. To deliver an outstanding product and large portions at an affordable price point for those in his community, Hernandez must have confidence in his internet service provider.

“We have very few issues now, but it only takes a single phone call to talk to an actual human being who would solve problems. And the customer service is great.”

With seven locations, the move to Cox Business phone and Internet didn’t happen overnight. Hernandez went from location to location until the entire operation was serviced by the Cox Business fiber-powered network. The impact, however, was immediate.

From point-of-service sales inside his restaurants to online booking of his vast catering services, Tacos & Co is busier than ever in the post-Covid economy. The reliable service from Cox Business has also enabled Hernandez to expand and refine the catering arm of his business, something that wouldn’t be possible otherwise.

With one less worry, Hernandez can focus not just on his franchise, but also on giving back to his community in other ways. He promised his one-time partner and mentor he would always help others.

“I came in with nothing,” Hernandez said, reflecting on when he began this journey 32 years ago. “This gentleman…to this day is still my mentor. He went back to Mexico City, but he told me back then that one day, I had to pay it forward and help other people. As a minority, it’s been my privilege to be able to help. Many years later, I find myself giving speeches to high schoolers, helping young people to believe they can do this, and reminding them to have higher expectations of life. It’s my greatest joy.”