DIXON, CA (MPG) - Some might say Frances Murillo has made her Mexican Food Restaurant a success because of her perseverance as it is now in its 50th year and there are plans to open a new location in Dixon. But really, it's because Frances loves people--and her work.

That encompasses taking care of her employees as if they were family, teaching high school students how to be good employees, and pleasing customers with traditional Mexican food.

Early Years

"I love customers and I enjoy my work," said the attractive, slim, 75-year-old woman who seemed to perfectly and passionately talk about the early years of actually crossing over with her family into the land of opportunity from Jalisco, Mexico. Her father and their family of six children had to produce 50 boxes of fruit a day and were paid only 25 cents a box so when harvest season began, everyone pitched in. Frances talked about how she could only work so many months a year in the restaurants but then had to quit "year after year" to help work in the farms.

"I hated it with a passion," she said, leaning in with eyes still brimming with a loathing of the work.

Fortunately, that meant Frances got a lot of training and many experiences with top-rated restaurants at the time like the Milk Farm, Black Oak, Nut Tree, and the Coffee Tree.

While working in the fields at age 16, she met her husband, Blas Murillo, and over time, he worked his jobs and she worked as a server until a restaurant came up for sale at 633 Merchant Street in Vacaville and they decided to snatch the opportunity.

It was a good decision. Over the next many years, and while raising three children Danny, Linda, and Debbie, who all graduated from Dixon High School, they wound up purchasing the entire block of buildings. Several years later, they opened a second restaurant at 1591 East Monte Vista with their daughter, Linda, manning it. The menu has not changed. Predictability seems to be a true asset to business success.

"When I first started, I had to introduce Mexican food to Vacaville. It's really simple and not a lot of spices. It is the same now," Frances said. The restaurant was voted Best Mexican Restaurant every year since 2005 and rarely can you find a slow day even during the week at either location.

Beloved Employer

She is talked about by customers as being wonderfully friendly and several family members work in both the restaurants.

"She always cares what they think and is always paying attention to them," said server Anna Montes. It is apparent that her employees feel the same.

While Frances never got more than ten years of education with five of those in Mexico and five in Vacaville, she is wise and with the exception of the new teens, her workers have all been with her for years. Montes has worked for her since 2003.

"I had never been a server and couldn't even speak English but she gave me one week and told me I needed to smile a lot. I didn't smile because I took my work very seriously but with her help, I became more open," said Montes. "I felt safe because she cared."

Montes even left for a bit for a supposed more prestigious job but then came back, and she was re-hired. Frances doesn't believe in making things tough for others if they choose to leave and encourages them to find their better path--whatever that would be.

She tells her teen workers that this isn't the perfect job, but it's the job that will help them get to the place they want to be.

"There are ladders," Frances said. "You have to climb them."

Why Dixon?

Dixon still feels like a small community to Frances and feels that Vacaville has become "overpopulated." She wants to be able to help the schools, the children, and the special programs like she used to do. She used to donate belt buckles for Vacaville and Dixon children who participated in the Circle D Horseman Ranch and regularly donated to food banks but they don't even ask anymore, she said.

Her favorite decade was the 1960s.

"People were unique and respectful," she said. "I was very involved with the Fiesta Days and we all had a good time." She believes her volunteerism and donations will have a stronger impact in a smaller community. And besides, her nephews live here. Now that she has 11 grandchildren and even a great grandchild, she has renewed optimism. Business has hardly slowed during COVID and she survived a 12-foot fall just weeks ago.

Clearly, Frances is a woman of faith and prayer as witnessed by her wall hangings of Our Lady of Guadalupe and other saints in the Merchant Street location. While she was balanced on a wide beam cleaning a window at the family cabin recently, she got startled by someone at the door and fell. She was airlifted to a Chico hospital and after many prayers, she was soon released with only a concussion. She keeps a statue of San Miguel, an angel known as a great protector, nearby as a reminder of his help--and her gratitude.

People are living to be 95 and she feels strong and healthy, she said. She could have another 20 years and aren't we the lucky ones?!

"I never forget where I came from but I just want to see how far I can go," she said. The new Murillo's will be at 1435 Ary Lane in the space formerly occupied by the IHOP. They hope to open by the end of this year.