Meet Lorena Torres, manager of El Mariachi’s in Winfield

Lorena Torres does not, nor has she ever lived in Winfield, but if you have dined at El Mariachi’s in Winfield, there is a good chance you have met her. Full of energy and with a friendly smile, she will meet, greet, and seat you then make sure you have an enjoyable dining experience.

Lorena lives in Letts with her husband Oscar Solis and two of their five daughters. Their other daughters are grown and no longer live at home.

Lorena has come a long way to arrive at her destination. She was born in Mexico, the middle child of five children. Her parents immigrated to the United States in the 1970s, subsequently followed by the rest of her family. Lorena was determined to remain in her home country. The then 17-year-old teen lived on her own until fate intervened. At the age of 18, she became the mother of a little girl, Leslie. The father of Leslie did not take responsibility for raising a child and Lorena was on her own.

“I was poor,” admitted Lorena. Lorena's job as a waitress couldn't cover childcare, so she borrowed from friends for essentials. “I borrowed enough to get by until I got my paycheck, then I would pay them back, but again I had to borrow money. It was a never-ending cycle.”

Lorena’s problems worsened when Leslie’s father started stalking them.

With a 4-year-old and with little hope for a better future in Mexico, Lorena decided to join her family in the U.S. and make a fresh start. With help from her father, Lorena bought a ticket to Chicago and a new life. When asked if she had ever flown before, she said she had not and boarding the plane with 4-year-old Leslie was terrifying.

When disembarking in the U.S., Lorena said everything was so different. “It is hard to explain,” said Lorena of the experience. “It just felt different, safer, cleaner—” Her brother met her in Chicago and brought her and Leslie to Columbus Junction, where they lived with her sister for a year. Lorena took a third shift job at IBP near the Junction.

"When I got my first paycheck, I went to Walmart and bought Leslie things I couldn't afford in Mexico, where I sometimes lacked money for her milk." Lorena was happy to be able to buy clothes and toys for Leslie for the first time.

To help her learn English, Lorena went to school for three months. She left her night shift and went directly to class. However, Lorena stated that she has primarily acquired her English language skills through social interactions. Lorena keeps improving her English-speaking skills.

While working at IBP, Lorena met her husband, Oscar Solis, also from Mexico and employed at IBP. From experience, Lorena wanted no part of another long-term boyfriend/girlfriend relationship. They were married in 2000 at Washington, Iowa and moved to a house in Wapello where they started a family. As their family grew, Lorena said they needed a bigger house, so they moved to their current home, a large home in Letts where Oscar established his own car repair service. Their two youngest daughters Brianna, 13 years and Luna, 7 years, attend L&M.

Lorena became the manager of El Mariachi after accepting a job offer from a family friend, Mario Perez, who had opened a restaurant in Columbus Junction and invited her to work there. When he decided to open a restaurant in Winfield, he first asked Lorena what she thought of the idea, she told him to “go for it!” and when he asked her if she could manage it, she said, “I sure can.”

When Lorena has (or takes) some time off, she spends it with her family. “We like to play games, watch TV and just hang out.”

Lorena said her pet peeve is having to get up early to go to work, adding, “but I love my work.” Not only has Lorena reached her goal of making a good life for herself and her family, but her work has also paid off in other ways. Lorena owns four houses: two in Grandview, one in Wapello, and their home. Her husband, Oscar, does repairs to keep up the rentals.

Lorena is instilling in her daughters how important it is to work for what you want. “I do not want people handing me money. I want to work for it.” And work she does. Lorena said she is happy with her job and feels blessed to be both happy and healthy. “I thank God for the opportunities the U.S. has given me. Never look back, always look forward,” said Lorena, who said someday she may look for a job with less hours than the 60 per week she has now.

Lorena shares practical advice for today's youth based on her own experiences and efforts to improve her and her family's life. She encourages everyone to set goals.

“Everything is possible if it has a purpose. Achievements come from your efforts and determination. Do not give up. When one door closes look for another.”

Lorena, who has a pet puppy named Leyla, also has this advice, for pet owners. "When you adopt a pet, don't give up on it. It is a member of the family”!

Lorena’s optimism is contagious. At El Mariachi’s, your meal comes with a side of Lorena’s enthusiasm for life.