Yes, even though The Boy’s Restaurant in Santa Maria is under new ownership, they still serve breakfast all day.
According to Eric Maciel, son of new owner Francisco Maciel, that’s the most frequent question customers ask when they visit the restaurant, which has been under new ownership since Aug. 1.
When the previous owner was ready to retire, he offered to sell the restaurant to his long-time cook, Francisco, who’d been working at the restaurant for more than 36 years. Francisco started as a dishwasher at age 19, when he was new to the United States and didn’t speak English. During his first few months, he occasionally helped out in the kitchen, then one day, the manager put a chef’s hat on his head and asked him to cook full time. He’s been cooking at The Boy’s Restaurant ever since.
Francisco bought the restaurant for the family, so there would be something to show for his years of hard work. He’s proud of his accomplishment.
“Yes, I am the new owner,” he explained with a laugh. “But, I am now the owner of the problems as well.”
Before he bought the restaurant, he told his family he wanted them to help run it. Now his wife Maria works as a waitress. His son Eric, 21, is a manager and cook; son Frank, 29, handles the paperwork; and daughter Joanna helps out when she can. They all work together to make the restaurant a success.
Running a restaurant that stays open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week is no easy task, the Maciels explained.
“It’s really something working with family,” Eric said. “It’s not as easy as it seems.”
But the family must be doing something right, because business has been steadily increasing since the ownership change. They haven’t made any changes to the menu, though they do have daily specials, including a different omelet every day, and lunch and dinner specials, such as ribs on Saturday nights. They have also taken steps to improve the service, adding waitresses during busy times.
“The last five Saturdays have been busier than any I have seen in all my years here,” Francisco said. “Luckily, I like to work.”
Or, as Eric said, “It’s all about treating people right and giving them what they need.”
The breakfast menu features dishes such as the “Boss Hog,” a meal of two eggs, two pancakes, and two slices of bacon. Francisco also cooks up ham and eggs, steak and eggs, corned beef hash, an assortment of omelets, waffles, pancakes, and more.
The lunch and dinner menu offers Salisbury steak, golden fried chicken, rib-eye steak, roast beef, liver and onions, chili, hot turkey and roast beef sandwiches, tri-tip and fries, burgers, and more. There’s also a seniors’ menu and a children’s menu.
The Boy’s Restaurant is at 117 N. College Drive in Santa Maria.
For more information or to make a reservation, call 922-1515.
Highlights
• Santa Maria-based Hardy Diagnostics
announced March 28 the medical device manufacturer has completed its nationwide distribution network, with the addition of its eighth distribution center in Albany, N.Y.
“Orders and sales have increased quickly,” Ryan Burks, director of Logistics at Hardy
Diagnostics, said in a statement. “Our nationwide distribution network allows us to compete with companies 10 times our size.”
The company began building its network in 2004. According to company president Jay
Hardy, it enables Hardy Diagnostics to offer next-day ground service to more than 72 percent of the United States, and two-day ground shipping to 99 percent of the country. The development allows the company to compete for nationwide contracts and reduce customer freight charges.
Hardy Diagnostics’ headquarters is at 1430 W. McCoy in Santa Maria.
For more information, visit hardydiagnostics.com.
Biz Spotlight is written by Intern Pamella Wood. Highlights are written and compiled by Staff Writer Jeremy Thomas. Information should be sent to the Sun via fax, e-mail, or mail.
This article appears in Apr 5-12, 2012.