Yucatan is celebrating 25 years in Sumter

Yucatan Mexican Restaurant owner Hector Reyes called it "the opportunity of a lifetime" when he was able to buy the former San Jose Restaurant in Gateway Plaza in 1999 and make it his own.

Fast-forward to now, and Reyes says he has been able to live the "American Dream," as Yucatan celebrated its 25th anniversary in Sumter on Aug. 1. Keys to success have included good food and drinks, friendly staff and a strong work ethic, he said.

Reyes said customers regularly say consistency and the personal touch are what make the restaurant so popular.

"We are consistent on our food and the drinks," he said. "People tell us all the time that they come back because the food is consistently good. Customers also like the atmosphere and friendly staff."

Yucatan is open for lunch and dinner seven days a week, and fan favorites include the fajitas; the Molcajete, which is a dish with chicken, shrimp and steak served with tortillas; a cheesesteak burrito; tacos; and the margaritas.

Dinner is the busiest time of the day because customers have more time then to relax with a beer or a margarita, Reyes said, as opposed to a standard one-hour lunch schedule.

A server for San Jose for two years, Reyes bought the restaurant in 1999 from its ownership, who had planned to close the establishment, and then he changed its name to Yucatan.

In his first five years as owner, he said he did everything, to include serving and cleaning the tables, but then the restaurant became more established. Now, his role is more general oversight, but he still brings a strong work ethic every day.

"I make sure that every day I am pushing to be the best," Reyes said. "I am on top of everything. I am checking the kitchen, and I tell the customers to let me know if something is wrong, so we can fix it. I really love my job, love working with people, and I am happy with what I am doing."

The growth of Gateway Plaza at the intersection of Broad Street and Alice Drive through the years has also helped business, he added, as customers often come in to eat after shopping.

The restaurant is also fortunate to be on the corner of the plaza, Reyes said, because there is plenty of parking in the back and easy access from a side entrance area.

Reyes, 58, moved to America from Mexico when he was 20, and he has been in the restaurant business for 30 years.

He said he is thankful to be in Sumter.

"I am so thankful to be in Sumter, and God put me here," Reyes said.

Yucatan has also many times been selected as the best Mexican restaurant in Sumter in The Item's Best of Sumter contests.

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YUCATAN MEXICAN RESTAURANT

Address: 1316 Broad St. (Gateway Plaza)

Phone: (803) 905-1955

Hours: Monday-Saturday: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sunday: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

"Happy hour": Monday-Thursday: 4 to 7 p.m.