Camarena, founder of Taqueria Arandas chain, dies

Arandas owner Jose Camarena poses for a photograph in December 2003. Arandas owner Jose Camarena poses for a photograph in December 2003. Photo: Christobal Perez, STF Photo: Christobal Perez, STF Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Camarena, founder of Taqueria Arandas chain, dies 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Jose Camarena, who pawned most of his belongings 30 years ago to start what would become the $40-million-a-year Taqueria Arandas chain of Mexican restaurants, has died. He was 60.

"He died within the last few days," said the family's spokesman, Cesar Rincon, who declined to release any other details about the death or funeral arrangements. "The family just asks that their privacy be respected at this time."

Rincon described Camarena as a religious, humble man who would want his funeral arrangements kept as private and simple as he had lived his life.

"He was a self-made man, who had a classic immigrant success story, coming here to find the American dream," Rincon said. His chain includes 30 taquerias, 5 bakeries and 2 fish houses across Texas. In 2006 he turned over the management to his daughter, Judy Camarena.

First job at age 10

Camarena named his franchise after the town nearest the village in Jalisco, Mexico, where he grew up with nine brothers and sisters. His family was so poor that the had to quit school in the second grade and got his first job at age 10.

He was a man who learned early to believe in hard work. "At that time, you chose between eating and studying," he said in Houston Chronicle story about his franchise business.

In 1979, at age 25, he decided his only chance to emerge from poverty was to come to the United States.

$5,000 in savings

He and his young wife, Sylvia, ended up in Chicago, where he got a job in a Mexican restaurant for $140 a week. He learned the business well, working 13-hour days, six days a week over the next two years before moving to Houston.

He told the Chronicle he came here with $5,000 in savings with plans to start his own business by buying a taco truck.

He realized Houston had plenty of Mexican restaurants but few taquerias - informal restaurants serving Mexican fare that is fresh, fast and cheap. So he took his savings and pawned his furniture and even his pickup truck to launch his first 8-table taqueria on Irvington Boulevard. The last was opened recently off Gessner in west Houston, as the chain's popularity has grown among all ethnic groups.

In each establishment, he asks that a portrait of Jesus be prominently displayed; a photograph of his church from his Mexican hometown decorates the menus. "Our family is very religious. We believe we are here because of God, and this is how we express our thanks," he told the Chronicle.

Five bakeries

In 1991, he started his first of five bakeries, Arandas Bakery, on Airline Drive. Next came the two seafood establishments, Ostionerias Arandas.

Camarena also helped organize Camera De Empresarios Latinos de Houston, for Hispanic entrepreneurs following in his footsteps.

He is survived by his wife of 42 years and three daughters.