Always learning

Pedro Ayala draws support from family, community

MOSES LAKE — Pedro Ayala tries to learn something new every day.

Whether from his young nieces and nephews, a patron of his restaurant or a person he meets in his travels, Ayala finds the drive in his day by learning tidbits from the people he comes in contact with.

"Everybody has their own treasures," he said.

Foremost among his teachers has been his family, who taught him to work hard and brought him into the restaurant business. Ayala says he can be proud of himself by putting in a full effort each day. His family taught him the business of their restaurant in Mexico City when Ayala was still very young.

"When I was in Mexico City I would just go with my dad and serve food, open pops," he said. "I was just a kid."

He calls his family the most important thing in his life, and would do anything for them. From their teachings, Ayala has learned the pride of the hard work it takes to run a small business.

He and other members of his family came to the U.S. from Mexico City 15 years ago. He was 18 years old when his grandfather, Ramon, brought his family to the U.S. The U.S. offers more opportunities, he said, and Ayala identifies with other immigrants and their need to come to this country.

"We're here for a reason, immigrants are working people. We come to this country to work," he said. "We come looking for the American dream. In order to do that you have to get up every day and work hard."

Ayala proclaims himself as Mexican American, and holds dual citizenship in both Mexico and the United States. When his family first came to Grant County, he started washing dishes at a local cafe, and worked in a factory in Ephrata and in sales before opening the restaurant. He calls himself a regular guy; he says anybody can achieve anything, they just have to work for it.

He launched Tacos El Mexicano about four years ago. He admits the work is hard but takes the experience from his family's restaurant, and the community support he has received, to make his restaurant grow and bring in more customers. He has served as everything from dishwasher to floor manager and stays busy throughout the day.

And Ayala knows how hard it is to get a business going. He also owned Latin Connections, a cell phone store on Broadway Avenue, for about a year. But he said the work of two businesses was killing him. To help keep the restaurant successful, Ayala depends on the support of his family.

"I got a lot of help from my dad," Ayala said. "My dad is here earlier than me."

Alongside Ayala, there are four family members, including his dad Ignacio, who work in the restaurant from open to close. They know how busy it can get. Ayala can move about the restaurant and take orders or make change for his customers, while sticking to an in-depth discussion.

"I like it," he said of the restaurant business. "I like being able to serve, and bring a taste of my culture to the community of Moses Lake. That's something that I enjoy a lot."

Aside from the work of the restaurant, Ayala has also been active in the area's former Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and he has been one of the organizers of Cinco De Mayo celebrations in town the last few years. He wants to be an active member of the community and take part in events in the community. It's nice to see the Hispanic community get together for a celebration, Ayala said, but he would like to see events more often.

After being in the country for 15 years, Ayala enjoys living and working in the area, but admits his love of traveling also wants to take him places.

Ayala is a traveler at heart. Saving napkins from hotels, Ayala enjoys learning the cultures of every place, and everyone he meets. He's traveled throughout the U.S. and Mexico, but lists Prague and Rome as two of his favorite places. He spent a month backpacking in Europe four years ago, and then came back to Moses Lake to open Tacos El Mexicano.

"This is the first time that I've settled down in a place," Ayala said, and said he doesn't know how long it will last. He said he's not a person who can stay in any one place for a long time.

In a few weeks, Ayala will celebrate his birthday in Miami with friends, a tradition he has started to travel some place he's never been for his birthday each year. In the next several years, Ayala hopes to continue his travels but also be comfortable with his family and himself. And do some backpacking.

"I'm 32 years old, and I still have time to do backpacking," Ayala said of traveling. "It's about learning the culture, meeting the people. There's a world of opportunity, we just have to find our way."