Karen and Jose Flores continue investing in their community

Jose and Karen Flores recently purchased Los Dos Charros in Huntingburg with plans to add a bit of their own culture to the established Huntingburg restaurant while maintaining customer favorites.

The couple will celebrate their new ownership with a ribbon-cutting hosted by the Dubois County Chamber of Commerce on Friday at noon at the restaurant located inside the Quality Inn, 406 E 22nd Street.

The restaurant acquisition represents the latest chapter in the couple’s entrepreneurial journey, which began with Mi Pais Market in 2018.

Originally from Houston, Texas, Jose and Karen relocated to Huntingburg in 2013 for work. Unfortunately, in 2016, they returned to Texas to be with Jose’s mother, who had been diagnosed with terminal cancer. When she passed away, the couple considered staying in Texas, but according to Jose, Huntingburg had become their home.

He called Farbest, where he had previously worked as a production supervisor, and they offered him a job if he wanted it. The couple decided to return to Huntingburg, but Karen had new career plans in mind when they returned.

“I told him I wanted to do something different,” she said.

She wanted more freedom to be with the couple’s children.

Her mom had operated a store and a small kitchen when she was growing up. The idea of creating something similar appealed to Karen.

When they returned, Karen began exploring the possibility of opening a small store. Judy Rohleder, a business and property owner on Fourth Street, inspired them to think bigger than what they originally imagined, and they made the jump into one of her buildings on Fourth Street.

“We got the big building…” Jose laughed. “And then…”

Soon after opening, the city began a major renovation project on Fourth Street as part of the Stellar Community program. Her business struggled.

In 2020, the pandemic further hampered the business.

“Some days no one came,” Karen recalled about the difficult early period when road construction blocked customer access and the pandemic reduced foot traffic. “Some days, (we earned) $2 a day, or $5.”

However, they persevered, and in 2021, Jimmy Kulbeth approached them about moving into the newly renovated former On-the-Go Video store at 405 South Main Street. It was a big jump for the couple. Jose was still working at Farbest, and Karen was running the store on Fourth Street, sometimes with their young baby, Millie, napping behind the counter.

Kulbeth, who had floated the location to a couple of other businesses, gave them an opportunity and a hand up by allowing them to move in rent-free for a few months to get established. After mulling over the opportunity, they decided to take him up on the offer.

Since then, they’ve grown and become more established, and a few years after moving into the Main Street location, Kulbeth offered to sell the building to them. The decision to go from paying rent to paying a mortgage on the building seemed wise, so they purchased the building.

“Thanks to Mr. Jimmy,” Jose said. “He helped us out a lot. He still stops by the store and asks how we are doing.”

Jose was able to leave Farbest last February to dedicate his time to the couple’s business, which has become a community hub for many Hispanics living in the area. Karen loves the business, and she enjoys meeting new people.

“I like helping people,” Jose said. “I like interacting with people.”

He and Karen have made a lot of friends through their business. It also connected them to the purchase of Los Dos Charros.

“It’s all connected,” Jose said. “If it weren’t for that (Mi Pais), we wouldn’t be here.”

Ramiro León Morales opened Los Dos Charros with his partners more than 25 years ago as one of the area’s first Mexican restaurants.

“They were full all the time,” Karen said.

A few years ago, he approached Karen and Jose about potentially purchasing it. They weren’t ready to do so then, but Ramiro continued asking. “He was ready to retire,” Jose said.

This year, they decided to take him up on the offer and took over ownership on June 1.

Jose and Karen plan to enhance the restaurant’s visibility and atmosphere while preserving the menu that has built a loyal customer base over 25 years under previous ownership.

“Everything’s going to stay the same,” Jose said. “The recipes haven’t changed.”

The restaurant will undergo cosmetic changes to increase its visibility from the street. Plans include adding outdoor patio seating and giving the interior “a little more life” with brighter colors. The bar has already undergone a major facelift.

The updates are also part of the couple’s plans to bring the restaurant back into the spotlight for the community.

“Our plan is to make it more noticeable because, if you don’t live here, you don’t know that there is a restaurant,” Jose said.

When he was telling some friends about going to get a beer at the restaurant located in the hotel, they didn’t know it existed. The Floreses want to ensure everyone is aware of it and what they are doing to make it their own.

While maintaining the existing menu, Karen and Jose have already introduced ceviche and wings. They plan to add Salvadoran pupusas in the future, drawing from Karen’s experience making them at Mi Pais Market.

“Down the road, in the future, we might add some more Salvadorian stuff to the menu,” Jose said.

The couple envisions creating distinct dining areas, with one side remaining family-friendly while the other caters to couples and those wanting drinks in a more intimate setting.

Karen and Jose view their businesses as opportunities to serve the community, extending beyond just providing food and goods. Mi Pais Market serves as an information hub where people come for assistance with housing, services, and connections to other community members.

And both businesses allow the couple to demonstrate work ethic to their children while building something for their family’s future.

“It’s gonna show our kids that we are working for it, you know, we’re working for something good at the end,” Jose said. “It’s sacrifices that we’re making now, but at the end, it’s gonna be worth it.”

The public is invited to attend the ribbon-cutting at the restaurant on Friday. As part of the celebration, they are offering 10 percent off for patrons dining in.

You can follow them on Facebook here, and the restaurant’s hours and menu are available on the website here.